A SOBBING businesswoman collapsed as she was jailed for killing a mum-of-two in a head-on crash while driving on the wrong side of the road.
Alicia Clarke, from Diss in Norfolk, was self-medicating with anxiety medication when she got behind the wheel of her Mercedes and swerved into oncoming traffic.
The horror unfolded on the A143 at Thorpe Abbotts, when the 49-year-old smashed into mum-of-two, Michelle Overy, just a week before Christmas in 2020.
Clarke, who runs Mrs Clarke’s General Store in Harleston, Norfolk, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
She appeared at the Old Bailey today, where the court was told her ability to drive would have been affected by the amount of drugs in her system.
Michelle’s ex-husband, Trevor Overy, wrote in a victim impact statement that her heartbroken boys, aged 13 and 15, completely withdrew after their mother’s tragic death.
“She will never see them grow up and make own lives,” he wrote.
“I gave up everything to move in with them and be a sole parent to them.
“We were not married anymore but remained close friends and took pride in co-parenting the boys.
“It took a huge toll dealing with the boy’s grief while dealing with my own.
“My partner had only met the boys twice before and is now helping me to raise them.
“We miss Michelle and our lives will never be the same without her.”
Prosecutor, Barnaby Shaw, explained to the court that while it had been dark at the time of the killer crash, good visibility was still possible with headlights.
“The defendant told police she was driving home from work in along that road which she knew well,” Mr Shaw told the court.
“She said she would never attempt to overtake other vehicles on that road.”
Clarke also told officers in her interview that she was not experiencing tiredness or feeling unwell on the fatal evening.
“She recalled thinking how dark the road was when a sudden large bang was felt, a huge impact,” added the prosecutor.
According to her police statement, the defendant wasn’t able to explain how the collision happened and had no memory of it.
The court also heard how Clarke had erratically driven past another driver at roundabout before the crash, cutting him off, and wove in and out of the white lane lines.
Mr Shaw explained: “He thought the driver might be drunk and considered calling the police.”
Shortly afterwards, Clarke came up behind an HGV and “before any consideration” swerved into the other lane, the court heard.
She then continued driving along the wrong side of the road, “not making any genuine attempt to overtake”.
Witnesses reported seeing Michelle’s car headlights moving towards Clarke, but the inebriated driver “made no attempt” to travel back into the correct lane, explained the prosecutor.
“A sample of blood taken from Clarke after the collision found she had been taking (anxiety medication),” he added.
Further investigation revealed the businesswoman had been ordering the drugs from unregulated “online pharmacy” websites.
James Leonard, KC, defending, said: “To say that she is remorseful comes nowhere near the true picture of this lady.
“She is today a shattered remain of what she once was.”
He argued his client had undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and had shown “poor judgment”.
Judge Anthony Bate said it was a “difficult and sensitive case” that required an immediate custodial sentence.
“Plainly there is profound and ongoing remorse,” Judge Bate told the court.
“I bear in mind her very strong personal mitigation and the circumstances, her obvious remorse, the impact on her three children and well documented mental health issues.
“However I regret I’ve come to the conclusion this particular offence of causing death by dangerous driving is so serious only immediate custody can be justified.”
Clarke was sentenced to two years and six months for causing death by dangerous driving.
The defendant was also disqualified from driving for three years and three months.
After hearing the sentencing, Clarke broke down sobbing on the floor and had to be held up by a security officer before being led to her cell.
