Mum-of-5 who caused death of Jackson Pickering jailed

Army hopeful Jackson Pickering, 18, was thrown across the street after being hit by a VW Golf driven by Victoria Barker just before midnight on June 16, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Barker, 37, was seen by eyewitnesses to get out of the car and check on Mr Pickering, before shouting "I've killed him, I've killed him", the court heard.

Within minutes her friend George Barnes, 26, had arrived on the scene in Springfield Road and was heard to shout to her that she needed to leave because she was drunk and high on drugs.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell said Barnes then got into the Golf and drove it a short distance to Marlborough Road, where he torched the vehicle.

But Barnes had left his flip flops close to the burning car and police were able to trace him via his DNA. The pair were both later arrested.

Jackson died four days later, in the Royal Preston Hospital, from his injuries.

His mother Kimberley Boothman said: "We will never be free of the pain and suffering that they have caused us."

She also said she was devastated that he would never see his two baby sisters grow up.

And his father Michael Pickering said in another statement: "As a family we will neither forgive nor forget what they have done to us."

The court heard that Jackson had been looking to follow his father, a former member of the Parachute Regiment, into the Army at the time of his death.

Barker, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Victoria Barker

Barnes, of Green Lane, Padiham, admitted to assisting an offender and dangerous driving in a Renault Clio before he arrived at the Springfield Road scene of the collision.

Jailing Barker, Judge Sara Dodd, said: "The effects of your selfish and reckless actions will remain with Jackson's family forever."

Judge Dodd said the car was driving at nearly twice the speed limit for the area at the time and it appeared she just had not seen Jackson before the collision.

She was also banned from driving for six years and 10 months and must take an extended retest before being allowed back on the roads.

The judge also jailed Barnes for 34 months and disqualified him from driving for five years and five months.

Jailing Barnes, the judge noted that he had "callously" opted to assist Barker rather than help Jackson.

George Barnes

Andrew Nuttall, for Barker, said: "It is right to say, on her behalf, that she has been consumed by guilt by this incident."

He told the court that his client, who had been diagnosed as bi-polar and had an unstable personality disorder, had struggled with the enormity of what she had done.

Kathryn Johnson, for Barnes, said: "The defendant has expressed to me that he is devastated that Jackson Pickering had lost his life."

Barnes accepted that he had chosen to assist his co-defendant rather than come to the aid of Jackson, she added.

Earlier that night Barnes and Barker, seen drinking what appeared to be vodka, had walked out without paying for an Indian meal at a nearby restaurant.

Sergeant Lee Harris, of the Tactical Operations Unit said, “We welcome the sentences that have been handed down today. 

"Barker drove her vehicle dangerously and caused the death of Mr Pickering, which was aggravated by the fact that she had consumed alcohol and drugs prior to the incident. 

"She also left the scene prior to the police arrival.”

“Barnes’ actions, in my mind, were calculated and designed to hinder the investigation, by attempting to destroy evidence that would have led us to the driver.”

“My thoughts remain with Mr Pickering’s family and friends at this time and hope that today goes some way to assist them in their grieving process.”