Woman, 71, killed police officer

Version 0 of 1.

A 71-year-old grandmother has been jailed for 16 months for killing an off-duty Essex Police officer in a "breathtakingly dangerous" manoeuvre.

Patricia Maltby, of Sudbury, Suffolk, admitted causing the death of Sgt Bob Walsham, 48, by dangerous driving.

Maltby's Vauxhall Corsa swerved across the A12 dual carriageway near Ipswich and into the path of Mr Walsham's motorbike, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Mr Walsham died at the scene of the accident, on 29 January.

'Moment of madness'

Nicola May, mitigating, said Maltby had been "confused about a right turn across the central reservation".

"It was a one-off moment of complete madness which had tragic consequences," she said.

Sentencing Maltby, Judge Neil McKittrick said: "This driving manoeuvre was almost breathtakingly dangerous."

Maltby was also banned from driving for five years.

The court heard Mr Walsham had been due to get married in August.

<strong>Cannot play media.</strong> Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

71-year-old Patricia Maltby admitted causing the death of Bob Walsham