Laila Barnard-Wigley’s ‘misjudgement’ had catastrophic consequences with the mother of one of the victims saying she had ‘never known so much pain’
Laila Barnard-Wigley admitted causing the deaths of two people by careless driving(Image: Hull Live)
A young Bridlington woman who caused the deaths of two people in a horrific “head-on” collision by careless driving – while she was “in a hurry” to get to a beauty salon before it closed – has been spared prison. Mercedes driver Laila Barnard-Wigley was driving too fast for the conditions after “biblical” amounts of heavy rain left the roads wet.
Her car probably “aquaplaned” into an oncoming vehicle, leading to “catastrophic” consequences, Hull Crown Court heard. Barnard-Wigley, 27, of Thoresby Avenue, Bridlington, admitted causing the deaths of Dean Yarrow, 33, and his girlfriend, Faye Wardle, 32, by careless driving on May 7, 2021.
She had been due to face a retrial after a jury was unable to reach verdicts in December 2023 but she later changed her pleas to guilty. Barnard-Wigley was originally charged with causing the deaths of the two people, from Scarborough, by dangerous driving.
Michael Greenhalgh, prosecuting, said that the accident happened just before 3.30pm as Barnard-Wigley drove a black Mercedes Benz car on the A165, near the Grindale crossroads, Bridlington. She was in collision with a red Peugeot 208 car being driven northbound by Mr Yarrow, whose girlfriend, Miss Wardle, was in the front passenger seat.
A young boy was in a child seat in the rear. Barnard-Wigley’s car veered across the road and crashed into the other car. There was a “head-on collision” and the prosecution claimed that Barnard-Wigley was driving at a speed that was not appropriate for the poor weather conditions.
She was said to have been “in a hurry” to get to a Bridlington beauty salon before it closed at 3.30pm because she wanted to try to sell some beauty products. She had, earlier that day, exchanged messages with a female friend who worked there.
Mention was made in the messages of Estée Lauder, make-up, foundations and perfumes. “She was in a hurry to get to the salon before it closed,” said Mr Greenhalgh. Barnard-Wigley was overtaking vehicles “to make rapid progress through traffic” before the collision.
There was “standing water” in some areas after earlier “torrential rain”. The rain had subsided. Barnard-Wigley overtook a man’s car and pulled in again but her car veered to the right and crashed into the oncoming car, causing “catastrophic consequences” including the two deaths.
Barnard-Wigley had probably lost control after hitting an area of standing water. She suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Mr Yarrow’s mother said in a statement said that she thought she “understood grief” but she had “never known so much pain” and her world was destroyed. She “put on a brave face” just to get through the day but all she felt was numb.
“I am broken beyond repair,” she said. “It has been a very difficult four-and-a-half years since we lost Dean and Faye,” she said.
Miss Wardle’s father said that the “silence is deafening again” at his home since the deaths. “My life at home is a very sad one,” he said. He often thought of what might have been.
Miss Wardle’s sister said: “She was the person I looked up to.” She also lost a friend in Mr Yarrow and he was an integral member of her family. “They were both the life and soul of any party,” she said. “It feels like part of my identity has been taken. I know that I am not the person I used to be.”
Richard Dawson, mitigating, said: “On any view, this is a tragic case, which has had catastrophic consequences. May I express our condolences to family and friends. The sentence that this court imposes cannot restore Dean and Faye to life.”
Barnard-Wigley had inflicted trauma upon herself through the guilt and remorse that she felt. The case arose from “simple driver error” in the road conditions.
“Laila Barnard-Wigley simply did not appreciate the risks associated with aquaplaning when driving in wet conditions,” said Mr Dawson. She had been driving at comparable speeds to other drivers but she accepted that she should have driven more carefully.
“Had she been driving more slowly, she might not have aquaplaned,” said Mr Dawson. It was a “momentary lapse” and a “misjudgement”, although it had serious consequences.
“This wasn’t a case of prolonged bad driving,” said Mr Dawson. “This was an entirely out of character event. Her thoughts have always been very much for the victims and their families.
“She is profoundly sorry and would seek to apologise for what she has now seen to be her careless driving and to apologise for the upset and heartbreaking distress which has evidently been caused.”
Barnard-Wigley had no previous convictions and she had a good driving record. The offence was due in part to her inexperience. She had shown genuine remorse, had a very good work record and currently had a self-employed business.
Barnard-Wigley was given a 21-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work and a six-month 9pm to 6am curfew. She was banned from driving for five years and she must pass an extended retest before she can drive legally again.