'Lapse of concentration' lead to death of milkman

A driver who crashed into a "generous and caring" milkman who later died from his injuries has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Stuart Withers, 71, of Shrewton in Wiltshire, died after the incident on Exeter Street in Salisbury on 22 November 2024.

Callan Howitt, of South Street in Warminster, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving in February.

The 30-year-old was given an eight-month suspended jail term, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

Withers had been completing his usual milk delivery route just before 06:00 GMT when he was struck by Howitt's vehicle, the court heard.

He had parked in Exeter Street where he got out of his vehicle with his hazard lights activated and opened the back doors of his van.

At the same time, Howitt was driving to work along Exeter Street when his attention was diverted by something in his peripheral vision and he collided with Withers and his van.

Although he was taken to hospital, Withers died a short time later.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Withers' daughter Bridget paid described her dad as "the kindest, funniest and most generous, caring man".

"I cannot begin to tell you how devastated and heartbroken I was and still am," she added.

Withers' wife Maureen said: "I miss my wonderful husband every single day and I don't know how I'm going to learn to live without him."

Det Con Alexandra Way from Wiltshire Police said the case served as a "stark reminder that taking your eyes off the road for even a moment can have devastating and irreversible consequences".

She added: "A lapse of concentration cost an innocent person their life."

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