Death crash driver jailed for eight years

Paula Barnes (pictured), aged 45, of Aldbourne Road, Baydon, had gone on the run abroad after causing the death of 49-year-old Baydon St Nicholas’ School teacher Diane Wright.
Barnes’ husband David, formerly of New Haywood Farm, Hungerford Newtown, is three years in to a 12-year jail term for his part in a plot to flood Britain with cannabis valued at £60 million.
She was initially arrested after being released from hospital on November 4, 2010 following the two-vehicle collision in Foxhill, Baydon, on September 23, 2010.
Mrs Wright, who was driving a blue, 3-series BMW, died from her injuries at the scene.
Barnes was then bailed to attend court on April 15 last year, but went on the run.
She was found in Holland last November following an international police hunt.
On Tuesday, she was jailed at Swindon Crown Court for eight years and five months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and failing to surrender to bail.
Mother-of-two Mrs Wright, who taught at Baydon St Nicholas’ School, was described at the time by headteacher Peter Chambers as a “valued and dedicated member of the school staff who will be greatly missed by the whole school community”.
She lived with her husband David, a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police with 32 years’ service, in Wootton Bassett.
They have two daughters - Tracey and Lucy.
Mr Wright said after Barnes was jailed: “Diane was a fantastic wife, friend, mother and work colleague.
"There is not a day goes by without us all thinking of her and no words can express just how much we miss her, other than to say that our lives have been utterly devastated and that we miss her terribly.
“Diane left for work and never came back.
"She was on her way home from work to be with her family. (Barnes) drove straight into my wife and killed her instantly.
"At the same time she killed the hopes and dreams of so many other people.”
He added: “I have had to take a considerable amount of time off sick and go for counselling as a direct result of this matter. Inside I have been falling apart, so much so that I have had to ask for help.
“We were a strong close family until the day Paula Barnes tore this family apart killing Diane.
“She then compounded matters by prolonging our agony and skipping bail to live abroad.
"This showed her absolute disdain for us, her failure to accept responsibility and her total lack of remorse.
“Our daughter Lucy was unfortunate to come across the incident and was told by police at the scene that her mum was dead.
“She will have to live with the sight of the mangled wreckage where her mother was killed for the rest of her life.”
"Standing there at side of road with no-one to turn to and no shoulder to cry on. It must have been awful.
“From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed there is a gaping whole in my life.
"I often wake up in my sleep thinking that she is still alive only to turn over in the realisation that she is no longer with me.
"I miss her and love her dearly.“Diane and I were looking forward to both retiring and embarking on a cruise or a bit of travelling.
"None of our dreams or aspirations are now possible due to a stupid, drunken, inconsiderate woman.
“I don’t think that she will ever learn the extent of what she has done and the effect she has had on so many people - many of whom are in court today.
“Paula Barnes killed a wonderful wife and a wonderful mother. I want her to know that, I want her to know that for the rest of her life.”
After the sentencing, the head of roads policing at Wiltshire Police, Insp Steve Cox, said: “We are pleased with today’s sentence as it reflects both the seriousness of these crimes and the anguish that Paula Barnes has put her victim’s family through.
“This case has been a long and complex one after Barnes tried to evade justice by fleeing to Holland where she hoped to remain undetected.”
He added: “The fact she was caught, arrested, extradited and has now been sentenced is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Wiltshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Team.
“After an intensive search involving the Zephyr Regional Financial Investigation Team and the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Barnes was arrested in Holland on November 9 2012 and we were successful at an extradition hearing which led to her being brought back to the UK.”
He described Barnes as a “a callous and manipulative woman who thought she was above the law”, and went on: “We hope that today, Diane’s family can feel that justice has finally been served.”