• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Woman jailed for causing couple’s deaths after A66 crash

by CWH
12 January 2024
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A woman has been jailed for killing a couple in a crash after apparently falling asleep at the wheel.

Front seat Volkswagen Golf passenger Christine Goodings, 61, died at the scene and her husband Steve, the driver, died in hospital 24 days later — three days after his 60th birthday — following the three-vehicle smash on the A66 in Cumbria just before noon on Monday, May 23 2022.

It was caused by Ellen Charlotte Leslie, 55, as she drove a Volkswagen T-Cross eastbound towards York with her youngest son, Edinburgh University student Theo, having left the Scottish capital several hours earlier and stopped at a service station for breakfast.

Video footage from a passing vehicle captured the shocking moment Leslie’s vehicle drifted gradually across solid double white lines near Warcop, and into head-on collision with an oncoming lorry. The goods vehicle driver had no control and then collided with the Goodings’ eastbound Golf.

Prosecutor Peter Wilson told Carlisle Crown Court today: “That was forced from the carriageway on to a verge and suffered significant front end damage. In addition it was partially underneath the lorry. Both Mrs Christine Goodings and Steven Goodings tragically lost their lives as a result.”

Video footage from a passing vehicle showed Leslie took no evasive action and, a police crash investigator concluded, there was no driver interaction by her for five seconds before impact.

Leslie admitted causing the couple’s deaths by dangerous driving. She told police afterwards she had no idea why the crash occurred, saying she was devastated at what happened while maintaining she was not tired at the time.

Judge Nicholas Barker concluded it was highly likely that Leslie lost consciousness by falling asleep at the wheel.

Accepting she was responsible for the couple’s deaths, Leslie, now of Hamlet Road, Bromley, told the court: “I certainly am and I’ll live with that for the rest of my life.”

Leslie sat with her head bowed in the dock as deeply moving impact statements were read by relatives of keen cyclist Steve and Chris Goodings, of Sunderland, who were married for almost four decades and, the court heard, did most things together.

“On 23rd May, 2022, my family’s world was turned upside down,” said one of their two sons, Steven junior.

He spoke of the tragedy causing “a ripple of grief, stress, worry, anger, confusion and loss that is still as fresh today as the day that I was given the news”.

“My parents’ life has been stolen from them and with them their dreams of spending the next chapter of their lives doing the things they had worked for together,” he said.

The couple’s other son, Gareth, said his life and family were destroyed on learning of the crash. “Losing them both in these circumstances is incomprehensible and I will never recover from losing them,” he said. “I will never overcome this life sentence of grief.”

Judge Barker said of those statements: “The loss for their family is deep and it is profound. This incident has ruptured and torn their lives for ever.”

Jailing Leslie for 28 months, Judge Barker told her: “The court understands that you are not a bad person, though you have done a bad thing which has had truly devastating effects.”

Leslie must serve a five-year driving ban when released from custody. She must pass an extended test before her licence is ever returned.

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Former Appleby mayor Frank Harland

Former Appleby mayor Frank Harland

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald