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Lorry drug-driver who killed Oxford scientist Dr Ling Felce jailed Lorry drug-driver who killed Oxford scientist Dr Ling Felce jailed
(32 minutes later)
Robert Whiting killed Ling Felce after he drove into her at The Plain roundabout on 1 MarchRobert Whiting killed Ling Felce after he drove into her at The Plain roundabout on 1 March
An unqualified, uninsured lorry driver who killed an Oxford University scientist while more than eight times over the drug-drive limit has been jailed.An unqualified, uninsured lorry driver who killed an Oxford University scientist while more than eight times over the drug-drive limit has been jailed.
Robert Whiting, 40, admitted causing the death of cyclist Dr Ling Felce, 35, at The Plain roundabout in Oxford, on 1 March.Robert Whiting, 40, admitted causing the death of cyclist Dr Ling Felce, 35, at The Plain roundabout in Oxford, on 1 March.
He had taken cocaine the night before.He had taken cocaine the night before.
His long-offending record was described as "dire" by a judge, who jailed him for eight years.His long-offending record was described as "dire" by a judge, who jailed him for eight years.
Whiting was driving a 32-tonne lorry, owned by Oxford-based company J&A Driveways, when the crash took place at about 14:30 GMT, Oxford Crown Court heard.Whiting was driving a 32-tonne lorry, owned by Oxford-based company J&A Driveways, when the crash took place at about 14:30 GMT, Oxford Crown Court heard.
A police investigator said the mother-of-two was visible to Whiting for 700m (2,300ft) before the crash, as they both travelled down Headington Road and St Clement's Street, before arriving at The Plain.A police investigator said the mother-of-two was visible to Whiting for 700m (2,300ft) before the crash, as they both travelled down Headington Road and St Clement's Street, before arriving at The Plain.
Dr Felce's husband James said she was "the light" of their familyDr Felce's husband James said she was "the light" of their family
Dr Felce, who had been waiting to use the roundabout, was killed instantly, the court heard.Dr Felce, who had been waiting to use the roundabout, was killed instantly, the court heard.
Whiting has never had a full driving licence, and his provisional driving licence ran out in 2002.Whiting has never had a full driving licence, and his provisional driving licence ran out in 2002.
He was first banned from driving for 12 months in 2002 and convicted of other driving offences in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2016.He was first banned from driving for 12 months in 2002 and convicted of other driving offences in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2016.
He was also due in court for driving without a licence and without insurance after police stopped him in Rymers Lane in Oxford, in December.He was also due in court for driving without a licence and without insurance after police stopped him in Rymers Lane in Oxford, in December.
J&A Driveways is under investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive.J&A Driveways is under investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive.
The couple had been married for eight years Dr Ling Felce's husband pays tribute to "wonderful and loving" wife
Dr Ling Felce's husband pays tribute to "wonderful and loving" wife
Dr Felce was born in Malaysia in 1986, and moved to London in 1991 with her parents and sister. She studied biochemistry in Oxford from 2005 and completed a DPhil at Oxford University's clinical pharmacology department.Dr Felce was born in Malaysia in 1986, and moved to London in 1991 with her parents and sister. She studied biochemistry in Oxford from 2005 and completed a DPhil at Oxford University's clinical pharmacology department.
Described by Oxford University as a scientist of "extraordinary talent", she had been researching immune responses to Covid months before her death.Described by Oxford University as a scientist of "extraordinary talent", she had been researching immune responses to Covid months before her death.
The CAMS-Oxford Institute recently said its Ling Felce Award would offer financial assistance to "support the next generation of world-leading computational biologists".The CAMS-Oxford Institute recently said its Ling Felce Award would offer financial assistance to "support the next generation of world-leading computational biologists".
Speaking in March, Dr Felce's husband, James, said: "I actually went past the crash site about an hour and a half after it happened, but I didn't know it was Ling.
"I was going through there on my bike and the whole place was completely closed, and I could see a truck and lots of police and ambulance...
"And then I came home and there was a police car, and when I saw that my brain made a connection very quickly."
Flowers and tributes were left at the roundabout following Dr Felce's death in MarchFlowers and tributes were left at the roundabout following Dr Felce's death in March
Dr Felce's husband, James, spoke to the BBC in March about the night he found out his wife had died, having driven past the scene of the crash.
"My immediate thought was about my children. I tried to give them one sort of last, normal evening."My immediate thought was about my children. I tried to give them one sort of last, normal evening.
"They asked where Mummy was but I just said, 'She's not coming back tonight, we'll talk about it in the morning.' And it was pancake day so I made them some pancakes and then put them to bed."They asked where Mummy was but I just said, 'She's not coming back tonight, we'll talk about it in the morning.' And it was pancake day so I made them some pancakes and then put them to bed.
"And it was only really once they were asleep that I really let myself really acknowledge it. "And it was only really once they were asleep that I really let myself really acknowledge it."
"My son's very young, he doesn't understand. He's asked on a few occasions if Mummy's coming home and he's starting to understand that she's not. He said they all had a "different life now", adding: "I can't look very far ahead now because it's too painful, because we had so many plans."
"My daughter is nearly six so she's got a much better understanding of that so when she found out she was obviously very upset. She's been really strong but she's having a hard time.
"It's a different life now, it's not the same. I can't look very far ahead now because it's too painful because we had so many plans.
"And the children now will grow up without a mother."
Sentencing Whiting, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told him: "You snuffed out her life in the matter of a second."Sentencing Whiting, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told him: "You snuffed out her life in the matter of a second."
He also banned Whiting from driving for nine years and said he must take an extended retest before he is legally allowed to drive.He also banned Whiting from driving for nine years and said he must take an extended retest before he is legally allowed to drive.
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