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A 30st motorist found guilty of causing the death of a man who was jogging along a road has pleaded with a judge not to jail her because she is “too fat” for prison.

The Daily Mail reports that 49-year-old Linda Ann Jenns knocked down and killed jogger Paul Stinton, 45, after she jumped a red light in her white Ford Kuga at Ashford in Kent.

Mr Stinton died in January 2014, in front of witnesses waiting near a retail park. The weather that day had been wet, the court heard.

Witness Debbie Lange said in court:

“I was sitting talking with my daughter when a grey van came hurtling past my car in the outside lane of the dual carriageway.

“It shook my car, which made me look up and it went through the red light. Two seconds later a white car came past at speed and straight through the red traffic light.

“I then noticed something flying up in the air – I wasn't sure what it was until I saw some arms and legs.

“I said to my daughter, 'My goodness, did you see that?'

“I realised then it was a person. I hadn't seen him before, but I had noticed that there were some people at the lights waiting to cross.”

The court heard that Jenns’ speed that day had been estimated by some witnesses to be at around 70mph.

However, the court accepted that Jenns’ speed had been within the 40mph sped limit on the road she was travelling along.


A jury of 11 at Canterbury Crown Court found her guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. A juror was removed from the court after recognising one of the witnesses in the case.

However, her defence lawyer told the court that Jenns was “morbidly obese” and had hoped to get a gastric band to reduce her weight. The court was told that because of her size, she would not be able to cope with life in prison.

Jenns had a stroke seven years ago – and at the time of the crash was receiving treatment for her weight and had lost between five and six stones in weight.

The court heard Jenns was hoping a gastric band would be fitted on the NHS to increase her life expectancy “quite dramatically”.

“As it is she is grossly overweight – morbidly obese – and since the incident, has put on even more weight,” her defence lawyer told the court.

“She is a person for whom a prison sentence would be extraordinarily difficult – and I don't think I exaggerate when I say she might not get through it.”

Jenns was granted bail – however, she was warned that she faces “an almost certain” prison term for the offence she was convicted of.

Jenns was also prohibited from driving after an interim driving ban was imposed by the court.

Judge Heather Norton adjourned sentencing for two weeks, pending medical reports.

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Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist personal injury solicitors able to advise those injured as a result of negligent driving on how to make a no win no fee claim for road traffic accident (RTA) injuries.

Personal injury claims usually have to be made within three years of an RTA injury – and children can claim compensation for road traffic accident injuries up to the age of 21.

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For expert legal advice on no win no fee Road Traffic Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.