Magistrate drove into woman in disabled parking row

A long-serving magistrate who rammed a woman out of the way while attempting to park in a hospital disabled bay has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Susan Mackay, 73, was late for an appointment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary when she made contact with Kelly White in the hospital car park, injuring her hip and wrist.

White told Leeds Crown Court that she had desperately tried to move her daughter's wheelchair out of the way of Mackay's vehicle during the incident.

Mackay denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving, but was found guilty of the latter count at trial. Earlier she was jailed for 10 months, suspended for 18 months, at the same court.

The court heard both women were in the car park of the children's hospital on 24 January 2024.

White and her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, were waiting in the bay for her husband to bring his car around when Mackay arrived for a consultation with a spinal surgeon.

Mackay flashed her Blue Badge at White, but then "simply drove into her" and "nudged her aggressively" out of the way.

Her Honour Judge Kate Rayfield told Mackay she had "ploughed on" despite White's "frantic" pleas for her to stop.

Mackay, who the court heard had served for 20 years as a magistrate in the family courts, stood trial in April and was convicted of dangerous driving. The jury could not reach a verdict on the assault charge and the Crown Prosecution Service did not seek a retrial, so the count was allowed to lie on file.

White, a mother of four children, gave a victim impact statement in which she told Mackay: "You were meant to uphold the law and help victims - not create them. I was begging you to stop. You did not show any remorse, you didn't help us and you laughed when I gave evidence as a witness.

"I feared for my life and I struggle to forgive you."

Defending, Nicholas Cartmell said Mackay had no previous convictions and a clean driving record.

He said: "She has resigned as a magistrate, and she was a pioneer for her gender as a chair of the family court bench. She served well beyond retirement age.

"She has shown genuine remorse and knows she has thrown everything away. Her blessed and virtuous life has gone."

Sentencing, Judge Rayfield told Mackay: "Instead of politely engaging in conversation with Kelly White, you held up your badge and gestured for her to move.

"Within seconds, you simply drove into her. Mrs White was desperately trying to stop you from hitting her daughter. She was frantic, and that can clearly be seen on the CCTV footage.

"It was highly dangerous and could have caused far more harm. You showed utter arrogance and superior entitlement, and have displayed no hint of remorse.

"During your trial, you reiterated your entitlement to park there. You showed no concern and painted yourself as a victim."

Judge Rayfield also criticised Mackay for denying the offence at "vast public expense" despite overwhelming CCTV evidence.

She added that it was "difficult to reconcile" Mackay's record of public service with her conduct that day.

Mackay, of Laneham Close, Bessacarr, was also disqualified from driving for a year and must take an extended retest to regain her licence. She was ordered to pay White £1,000 in compensation.

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