A MAN who killed his wife after crashing their car on their way back from a family holiday sobbed uncontrollably as he was spared jail for causing her death.
Simon Aylott, 34, from Clacton, was driving his wife, Rachel, back from Heathrow Airport on March 30 2011, when their car was involved in an horrific accident with a lorry.
In Chelmsford Crown Court last Friday, Mr Aylott, who was wearing a dark suit and glasses, wept as he listened to a recount of what happened that fateful morning.
Prosecuting, Gareth Hughes, said: "Whilst they were going up the A12 in the Witham area, the defendant inexplicably drove into a slip road. He was following a rigid lorry, which was decelerating at the time."
The lorry, which was travelling at about 25mph near Coleman's Bridge, was struck "with enormous force" from behind by Mr Aylott's Toyota RAV4, that was moving at speeds of around 70mph, the court heard.
The couple, who worked together at Pickering Interfaces in Clacton, were returning from a five-day trip to New York to celebrate Rachel's son, Danny's twenty-first birthday, as well as that of her niece, Siobhan Gilbert.
Rachel was sat in the middle back seat of the car and her brother, Russell Gilbert, who had also joined them on holiday, was in the passenger seat at the time of the accident at around 10am.
Mr Hughes continued: "Rachel Aylott was flung forward through the seats – it may well be that she wasn't wearing a seatbelt – and the impact caused injuries to her head, to her skull and to her body."
It is thought that all four of the passengers were asleep at the time of the crash after which Mrs Aylott was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ms Gilbert suffered from a ruptured spleen in seven places and Mr Aylott had a fractured skull and damage to his brain. He woke up in hospital believing he was still in New York and is still suffering from Amnesia as a result of the crash.
"It does appear that the probable reason for that accident occurring is simply that Simon Aylott fell asleep at the wheel," said Mr Hughes.
Also in court on Friday were Mrs Aylott's parents, Joe and Jean Gilbert, and members of both families, who were also visibly distressed throughout the hearing.
Defending Mr Aylott, Marc Brown, said: "This is a case of utmost tragedy. Until March last year, Simon Aylott and his wife were a happily married couple. They had a strong and devoted family by their sides. Most importantly, they were very much in love.
"The reality is that there's nothing this court could do or impose that serves a greater punishment to him than that he has already suffered. He is utterly devastated."
In an emotional letter addressed to the judge, Mr Aylott said: "The sense of guilt and grief I feel is enormous. While I have no memory of the accident, I know I was the driver of the vehicle.
"There's not a day that goes by where I don't wish I could turn back time. I want you to know how sorry I am for this and how angry I am at myself. I miss Rachel so much."
Sentencing Mr Aylott, Judge David Turner QC, said: "Aggravating features are simply not present here. This case is not about drunk or drugged driving, uninsured vehicles or messing around in the car with mobile phones."
He spoke of the "painful resentment" Mr Aylott feels from Rachel's family, but added: "I hope sincerely you may now reach out to one another."
Mr Aylott admitted causing death by careless driving and was given a nine-month sentence suspended for two years.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years, given a 12-month supervision order and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.
Judge Turner QC added: "I have no doubt that you are carrying, and will carry, that burden of responsibility for your whole life."
Georgina Cotton@ georgina.cotton@essexchronicle.co.uk
