Man admits causing pensioner’s death by careless A66 driving while over drug limit

A West Cumbrian man has admitted causing the death of a woman in a head-on crash on the A66 and seriously injuring two others, including a child.
Maureen Henley, 72, from Cockermouth, died in hospital after a two-vehicle collision near Marron Bridge, close to Bridgefoot, on December 22, 2023, at around 6.45pm.
She had been a front-seat passenger in a Suzuki Jimney driven by her husband, Colin, when it was hit by an oncoming Volkswagen Golf GTD that veered into their lane.
At Carlisle Crown Court today, 21-year-old Golf driver Simon Patrick Nicholson pleaded guilty to three charges. He admitted causing Mrs Henley’s death by driving carelessly while under the influence of drugs. The court heard he was over the legal limit for benzoylecgonine (BZE), a cocaine breakdown product, at the time of the crash.
Nicholson also admitted causing serious injuries to Mr Henley and to a child who was travelling in the back of the Golf by driving without due care and attention.
His solicitor, Mark Shepherd, told the court Nicholson had already indicated his intention to plead guilty during an earlier magistrates’ court appearance. Relatives of Mrs Henley were present in the public gallery, and Mr Shepherd conveyed Nicholson’s “deepest condolences” to them.
Mr Shepherd said Nicholson was only slightly above the drug-driving limit when tested after the crash and argued that there was no psychoactive effect influencing his driving at the time.
Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the case to allow for reports to be prepared by both a probation officer and a psychiatrist.
Nicholson, of Meadley Place, Cleator Moor, will be sentenced on February 20. He has been released on bail in the meantime and is currently subject to an interim driving ban. The full length of his disqualification will be determined at sentencing.