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Son of former Norfolk PCC jailed for killing woman in tractor crash Son of former Norfolk PCC jailed for killing woman in tractor crash
(35 minutes later)
The son of a former police and crime commissioner (PCC) who killed a woman with his tractor has been jailed for 42 months following a retrial. The son of a former police and crime commissioner (PCC) who killed a woman with his tractor has been jailed for 42 months after a retrial.
Henry Bett, 28, the son of the ex-Norfolk PCC Stephen Bett, was found guilty of causing the death of 43-year-old Rebecca Brown by dangerous driving in a retrial at Cambridge crown court this month. Henry Bett, 28, the son of the ex-Norfolk PCC Stephen Bett, was found guilty at Cambridge crown court this month of causing the death of 43-year-old Rebecca Brown by dangerous driving .
He had been jailed for three and a half years in 2015 but the conviction was quashed at London’s court of appeal in September 2016 and a retrial ordered. In 2015 he was convicted over the same incident and sentenced to three and a half years in prison, but the following year the conviction was quashed at the court of appeal and the retrial ordered.
The jury at the retrial found Bett guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two and he was sentenced at Peterborough crown court on Friday. The jury in the retrial found Bett guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two and he was sentenced at Peterborough crown court on Friday.
Judge Sean Enright said he wanted to jail Bett for 44 months, but the law prevented him from imposing a sentence greater than the original one. He jailed Bett for 42 months and banned him from driving for five years. The judge Sean Enright said he had wanted to jail Bett for 44 months, but the law prevented him from imposing a sentence greater than the original one. He jailed Bett for 42 months and banned him from driving for five years.
The family of Brown, who had four children, were in court as the sentence was read out.The family of Brown, who had four children, were in court as the sentence was read out.
Enright told Bett: “This is a very painful episode in their lives and for that family, life will never be the same again. She was a much-loved mother, wife and daughter.” Enright told Bett: “This is a very painful episode in their lives and for that family life will never be the same again. She was a much-loved mother, wife and daughter.”
Bett, of Thornham in Norfolk, killed Brown when he drove his tractor head-on into her Fiat people carrier in Castle Acre, Norfolk, in December 2013. Brown’s teenage son was in the car with her at the time. Bett, of Thornham in Norfolk, drove his tractor head-on into Brown’s Fiat people carrier in Castle Acre, Norfolk, in December 2013. Brown’s teenage son was in the car with her at the time.
Adrian Foster, the chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a very sad case, the consequences of which have had a terrible impact on many lives.”Adrian Foster, the chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a very sad case, the consequences of which have had a terrible impact on many lives.”
He said Bett was travelling in the middle of the road and failed to take sufficient steps to avoid a collision.He said Bett was travelling in the middle of the road and failed to take sufficient steps to avoid a collision.
In a victim statement read to the court, Brown’s husband, Stephen, said: “Life for all of us will never be the same again.” In a victim statement read to the court, Brown’s husband, Stephen, said: “Life for all of us will never be the same again.” He said the death of his wife was always on his mind. “She could do things only mums can do and I find it hard having to make all the decisions for the family,” he added.
He said the death of his wife, who he called Becky, was always on his mind. He continued: “She could do things only mums can do and I find it hard having to make all the decisions for the family.” Enright said the crash happened on the bend of a country road and Bett had been going too fast. He said Brown “was driving carefully and sensibly and her driving was beyond reproach”.
Enright said the crash happened on the bend of a country road and that Bett was “going too fast”. He said Brown “was driving carefully and sensibly and her driving was beyond reproach”.
In passing sentence, he noted Bett had blamed the victim “for some time” and that he had three speeding convictions.In passing sentence, he noted Bett had blamed the victim “for some time” and that he had three speeding convictions.
The court heard Bett had served 13 months of his original sentence before his appeal, and that this would be deducted from the new sentence. The court heard that Bett served 13 months of his original sentence before his appeal, and this would be deducted from the new sentence.
Speaking outside court, Joanne Colman, Brown’s sister-in-law, said: “As a family we have felt all along that Henry Bett’s driving the day that Becky was killed was dangerous.Speaking outside court, Joanne Colman, Brown’s sister-in-law, said: “As a family we have felt all along that Henry Bett’s driving the day that Becky was killed was dangerous.
“We just wish that he had admitted his guilt before putting us through two trials. The pain and upset this has caused us along with the lies and false blame he put on to Becky is very difficult to forgive.”“We just wish that he had admitted his guilt before putting us through two trials. The pain and upset this has caused us along with the lies and false blame he put on to Becky is very difficult to forgive.”
She said Becky was a “beautiful person” who was “so, so loved”. “She was a brilliant mum,” she added. “Her children are a credit to her and we see her in them which is a great comfort. We are so proud of all of them.” She said Brown was a “beautiful person” who was “so, so loved”. “She was a brilliant mum,” she added. “Her children are a credit to her and we see her in them which is a great comfort. We are so proud of all of them.”