Woman, 34, who caused Kesgrave dad's death handed suspended sentence

A 34-year-old woman whose careless driving led to the death of a Kesgrave father-of-two has been spared jail.

Lisa Mickelsen, of Trimley St Mary, was sentenced to six months in jail suspended for two years when she appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday.

She pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at a previous hearing on March 12.

Thirty-seven-year-old Craig Bedford died in hospital in June 2019 after his Honda motorbike was hit head-on by Mickelsen's Audi A6 and he was thrown from the vehicle.

Suffolk Police were called to the scene of the crash in Bell Lane, less than a mile from Mr Bedford's Quebec Drive home, just after 7pm on June 7.

An investigation carried out by force's serious collision investigation unit found that Mickelsen had been driving on Foxhall Road before turning right on to Bell Lane.

Sergeant Barry Abbott, who was part of the team investigating the crash, said: "Nothing can make up for the loss of Mr Bedford and our thoughts remain with Mr Bedford’s family and friends.

"Collisions like this ruin so many lives. Sadly, such is their vulnerability, motorcyclists are disproportionally seriously injured or as in this case tragically killed.

"As the roads, particularly now, are getting busier, we have a collective responsibility to look out for one another on the roads and stay safe.”

Mickelsen has also been ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work and has been disqualified from driving for 18 months.

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