Halstead: Drug driver admits causing 87-year-old woman's death

Callum Brankin, 23, was behind the wheel of his Mini Cooper in Mount Hill, Halstead, when he was involved in a serious crash with a Nissan Micra.

Barbara Bragg, 87, the driver of the Micra, was airlifted to hospital but died the following evening.

A probe into the crash, which took place on October 12, 2019, was led by Essex Police’s serious collision investigation unit.

Brankin was arrested and appeared at Ipswich Crown Court today, where he admitted a charge of causing death by careless driving when over the prescribed limit for a controlled drug.

The court heard a test found he had 2.2mcg of THC - the main psychoactive element of cannabis - per litre of blood.

The legal limit is 2mcg of THC per litre.

Brankin’s barrister Jude Durr asked for the court to consider ordering a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.

He said: “The defendant recently turned 23.

“He is a young man, in employment and from a good family, with no previous convictions.

“For those reasons we are seeking a pre-sentence report.

“The court may wish to consider alternatives to immediate custody.

“I accept the custodial threshold has been crossed but the range of sentences identified for this offence are such that it could be argued a custodial sentence could be suspended.”

Judge David Pugh agreed a report should be prepared, but added he wanted to “make it clear” cases of this nature normally attract a sentence of immediate imprisonment.

Brankin, of Oxford Meadow, Sible Hedingham, was released on unconditional bail until a sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday, July 9.

The judge imposed an interim driving ban until the hearing.

He said: “The nature of these matters, the fact I’ve granted you bail and ordered a pre-sentence report should be taken as no indication whatsoever of the type of sentence to be passed.

“As you’ve heard, in cases such as these immediate custody is the usual sentence.”