Mum on night out killed by 'angry' drink driver

A man who killed a mother-of-three in a hit and run after he had drunk 11 pints of lager has been jailed for 10 years and eight months.

Keita Mullen, 30, was crossing the A638 High Street in Bawtry, near Doncaster, at midnight on 24 July 2022 when she was struck by Matthew Harris' car.

Harris, 36, of Burcroft Hill, Conisbrough, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on Friday having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving whilst unlicensed or uninsured.

Mrs Mullen, whose children were aged 10, five and four months at the time, died at the scene while a friend she had been on a night out with suffered minor injuries.

Relatives and friends of Mrs Mullen, from Worksop, were in the public gallery to hear Harris had consumed 11 pints of lager at Conisbrough Cricket Club.

Despite living less than a mile away from the venue, Harris embarked on an "unnecessary" 14-mile journey across Doncaster and drove badly throughout, the court heard.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said Harris was angry after an argument with his partner, who owned the red Nissan Juke and was a passenger at the time.

"You made no attempt to stop, save a fraction of a second before impact. You just drove straight into them," he said.

"You are a coward. You did not stop. You drove straight off."

Harris escaped via the back door of his home when police attended in the early hours of the morning, then handed himself in four days later when the alcohol was out of his system.

He was driving at speeds of "at least" 39mph in the 30mph zone when he hit the women and was been paying "no attention whatsoever" to the road despite many pedestrians socialising in the area.

Mrs Mullen was thrown "four or five car lengths" and died at the scene after suffering head injuries.

Judge Richardson agreed with the prosecution that had Harris tried to slow down or been paying attention then the collision would have been avoided.

After watching CCTV footage, he added: "The two women have no idea they are in any danger. They are almost at the Kerb.

"Everyone in that family, in particular the children, have had their lives shattered into one thousand pieces."

Mrs Mullen's father, who had been about to give the two women a lift home, heard the collision as they crossed the road towards his car.

In a statement summarised to the court, he said he hears the "pandemonium of the crash" when it is quiet at night, and sees her body on the ground.

He described Mrs Mullen as a "beautiful, talented lady who he is proud to call his daughter".

Her mother and younger brothers also provided statements, and said they were heartbroken.

"She was not just my firstborn and only daughter, but my best friend, confidante, lunch partner, family events planner, and she brought so much love and enjoyment into all of our lives," her mother wrote.

In February 2021, Harris was disqualified from driving for one year after driving with excess alcohol.

The disqualification had lapsed by the time of the crash, but he had not applied for a new licence and therefore could not be insured.

Harris held his face in his hands for much of the hearing, visibly upset.

Judge Richardson said: "One day you will be released from prison. But the young mother you killed has had her life extinguished and you have caused devastation to her family and in particular to the children.

"She was much loved, and she was a good mother."

He sentenced Harris to 10 years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving, and 12 months to run concurrently for causing death while unlicensed or uninsured.

Harris was also disqualified from driving for a period of 12 years plus the time spent in custody, and subjected to an extended test order.

Judge Richardson commended Mrs Mullen's family for "their immense dignity at a very difficult time".

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