A WOMAN who killed two parents in a horror “head-on” smash while rushing to a beauty salon has been spared jail.
Laila Barnard-Wigley, 27, was driving a black Mercedes GLA in “biblical” rain when she hit into Dean Yarrow, 33, and his 32-year-old girlfriend Faye Wardle.
Tragically, the couple could not be saved and were declared dead following the incident in Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire on May 7, 2021.
Their two-year-old son, who was travelling in the same car, was left with serious injuries. He is now orphaned.
Barnard-Wigley, 27, was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving but those charges were later dropped.
Facing a retrial, she then admitted two counts of causing death by careless driving.
Her first trial heard she was “in a hurry” to get to a beauty salon to try to sell some makeup to the owner.
She veered across the road, apparently because of aquaplaning, and crashed into Dean and Faye as they headed in the opposite direction.
The couple’s Peugeot ended up in a field following the “head-on collision”.
But in Hull Crown Court today, victim statements were heard as Barnard-Wigley was being sentenced.
Mr Yarrow’s mother said she thought she “understood grief” but she had “never known so much pain” and her world was destroyed.
The court heard she “put on a brave face” just to get through the day but all she felt was numb.
“I am broken beyond repair,” she said.
“It has been a very difficult four-and-a-half years since we lost Dean and Faye,” she said.
Miss Wardle’s father said that the “silence is deafening again” at his home since the deaths.
“My life at home is a very sad one,” he said.
Miss Wardle’s sister added: “She was the person I looked up to.”
“They were both the life and soul of any party,” she said.
“It feels like part of my identity has been taken. I know that I am not the person I used to be.”
Richard Dawson, mitigating for Barnard-Wigley, said: “On any view, this is a tragic case, which has had catastrophic consequences.
“May I express our condolences to family and friends. The sentence that this court imposes cannot restore Dean and Faye to life.
“Barnard-Wigley had inflicted trauma upon herself through the guilt and remorse that she felt.
“The case arose from “simple driver error” in the road conditions.
“Laila Barnard-Wigley simply did not appreciate the risks associated with aquaplaning when driving in wet conditions,” said Mr Dawson.
“Had she been driving more slowly, she might not have aquaplaned.
“It was a “momentary lapse” and a “misjudgement”, although it had serious consequences.
“This wasn’t a case of prolonged bad driving,” said Mr Dawson.
“This was an entirely out of character event. Her thoughts have always been very much for the victims and their families.
“She is profoundly sorry and would seek to apologise for what she has now seen to be her careless driving and to apologise for the upset and heartbreaking distress which has evidently been caused.”
The judge noted she had shown genuine remorse, had a very good work record, and currently had a self-employed business.
Barnard-Wigley was given a 21-month suspended prison sentence.
In addition, she was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and a six-month 9pm to 6am curfew.
She was banned from driving for five years and must pass an extended retest before she can drive legally again.
