A pensioner's grandson was due to fly home from Australia for a surprise visit when she was struck by a car and killed.
Grace Foulds and her friend Marie Cunningham both died after being hit by an Audi on Lulworth Road in Southport on November 30 2021. Driver Glyn Jones, who had repeatedly been warned for more than a decade that he was unfit to drive due to his eyesight, remained emotionless as was locked up for causing their deaths by dangerous driving this afternoon, Friday.
In a statement read out to Liverpool Crown Court on her behalf today, Ms Foulds' daughter Mary Clarke remembered how her mum had been fondly known in the community as the "Maltese lady", having called the town home for half a century. She also described how the 85-year-old's grandchildren are now "very reluctant to come back to Southport" as "there is no more of nanny's special Maltese lasagne".
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Ms Clarke said in her statement: "I never get the house decorated early for Christmas, however I was putting the tree up and getting excited. My newlywed son, his wife and your great grandson were due to fly over from Australia for the first time since lockdown.
"It was going to be a big surprise for you meeting them all. Minutes later, after a frantic phone call, I'm identifying you on a hospital trolley.
"I couldn't say goodbye, because you'd already left. I couldn't spend time saying goodbye as I was having to provide personal information to the police, who were very caring and very sympathetic – something of which I am most grateful for.
"Those last few precious minutes of your life gone on a cold damp road surrounded by strangers. Sadly, your good friend also passed with you that night.
"The driver didn't see you in your beloved, bright red coat. You didn't get to see your granddaughter on her wedding day and meet your beautiful great granddaughter, to see your other grandson settled and happy with his lovely girlfriend so many social events missed by you.
"You'd have been so proud. My whole life has changed.
"I can't quietly grieve for you. I can't drive down the main road where you took your last breath.
"I'm very anxious and nervous. There are constant reminders of you displayed on a lamppost and on social media.
"I can't walk down the local high street without someone stopping and mentioning you. Everybody knew you as the Maltese lady – very popular, having lived, worked and prayed for over 50 years in Southport.
"There are too many memories, and I'm finding it very difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis. My three children, your beloved grandchildren, are very reluctant to come back to Southport.
"There is no more of nanny's special Maltese lasagne and quirky quotes to entice them. My life has changed so much.
"I'm numb, I can't feel anything. Southport only leaves me with very sad memories.
"I can't seem to see any further at the moment. Time is a great healer, but your time was cut short prematurely because someone didn't see you."
Ms Foulds' family released a further statement following Jones' sentencing, in which said: "It has taken over two years to get the justice that my mother Grace Foulds and her friends deserve after a very tragic and unnecessary death. It has been a very difficult time for myself, my husband and our three children and overseas family.
"Hopefully now we can move on with our lives. I would like to say a very big thank you to Merseyside Police for all their hard work to achieve this conviction and for all their outstanding support."
Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, who led the force's investigation into the incident, said: “This is an extremely sad case in which two women lost their lives and our thoughts, sympathies and support very much remain with both families. It has been a long and complicated investigation that required detailed analysis of the eyesight records of Mr Jones by an expert optometrist with over 40 years experience in the field.
"He concluded Mr Jones’ vision was well below the standard required for driving a vehicle and he was informed of this on several occasions by opticians and his GP. He chose to ignore this and continued to drive despite the expert optometrist concluding that his vision, without any correction, would have been so poor that he would not have managed to see the steering wheel of his vehicle clearly.
"This was an entirely preventable collision where the decisions made by Mr Jones have resulted in devastating consequences, leaving two families grieving and his own life being ruined. I hope that today’s sentence will now go some way to allowing both families to begin to try and move forward and properly grieve after over two years of agony.
"Glyn Jones continued to drive with a severe eye condition and against expert advice. He failed to notify his insurers or the DVLA of his condition and today he is behind bars where he will spend a considerable amount of time.
"I hope that this sends out a strong message to all motorists. There are potentially life changing consequences for failing to meet the driving standards and laws on our roads.
"It is vitally important that drivers have their eyes tested regularly and, if needed, wear the appropriate corrective lens or glasses. Drivers should also notify insurers and the DVLA of any notifiable medical conditions or disabilities – of which there are over 180 of them that can be viewed on the DVLA website.
"The police have the power to conduct roadside eye tests if they suspect there is a problem with your eyesight. Should you fail this test, the police can revoke your licence there and then and report the matter to the DVLA for further investigation.
"Furthermore, if you are involved in a serious collision, driving with defective eyesight may result in charges relating to dangerous driving which, as we have seen in this case, can result in a custodial sentence."
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