Drink-driving barmaid, 22, jailed for killing footballer boyfriend, 21, after crashing car as he hung out window
A DRUNK barmaid killed her footballer boyfriend in a horror crash as he hung out of the car window.
Lucy Pegler, 22, selfishly got behind the wheel of her Fiat 500 after guzzling a concoction of beer, spirits, and wine in Derbyshire, on January 7 last year.
She drove along King Street, in Bakewell, before losing control on a bend and smashing into a shop.
Her partner Kyle Shimwell, 21, was a passenger in the front seat, and two other friends were sat in the back.
Kyle, who was not wearing a seat belt, was rushed to the Northern General Hospital, in Sheffield, with serious injuries fighting for his life.
The young man was sadly pronounced dead nine days later.
Derbyshire Police confirmed Pegler tested more than twice the legal limit and was arrested at the scene.
The defendant appeared at Derby Crown Court on September 26 for sentencing after accepting a charge of causing death through careless driving and while unfit through drink.
She was initially charged with the harsher offence of causing the death of Mr Shimwell through dangerous driving, which she denied.
Prosecutor, Stefan Fox, said the defendant met up with Kyle at around 10.25pm in the Joiners Arms in Bakewell on January 6 after working a shift at the Red Lion pub, in Birchover.
The court heard she sunk “two pints and four mouthfuls of Kyle’s rum and ginger ale” in less than an hour at the boozer.
The couple then went to the Queen’s Arms, where Pegler had another pint, a glass of red wine and five mouthfuls of Kyle’s drink.
She later offered to drive them home, along with Kyle’s cousin and a female friend.
Mr Fox told the court: “She swung around a roundabout, the female in the car said she thought it was more her ‘showing off’, rather than the alcohol.
“Kyle opened the passenger side window and started hanging out of it and waving.
“She tried to negotiate a bend, but mounted a kerb and collided with a shop front called Brides of Bakewell.”
In two pubs, you made a determined effort to get drunk, consuming pints from the bar and taking gulps from the glasses of others and all the time you intended to drive home
Judge Jonathan Straw
Pegler got out the car and coldly pushed Kyle back into his seat before asking his cousin “what should I do, should I drive off? I’m over the limit, I’ve had too much to drive”, the court heard.
Defence barrister, Dan Scothern, said in mitigation: “Two families have lost their children due to Miss Pegler’s terrible decision that night.
“She had her whole life ahead of her and because of her terrible actions all of that has been taken away from her.”
The vile drunk driver, of East Bank, Winster, was caged for four-and-a-half years.
Police statement
Detective Constable Diane McDermott, who led the investigation, said: “This was an appalling piece of driving by Pegler who was heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time and showed no regard for the safety of her passengers.
“Her actions on that night ultimately led to the death of Mr Shimwell, who at just 21 years of age, had his whole life ahead of him.
“This tragic incident shows the very real consequences of drink driving and general carelessness while behind the wheel.
“Our thoughts remain with Mr Shimwell’s family and I hope that this case will serve as a warning to other drivers about what can happen if you take risks on the roads.”
She has also been banned from driving for nine-an-a-half-years.
Passing the sentence, Judge Jonathan Straw said: “In two pubs, you made a determined effort to get drunk, consuming pints from the bar and taking gulps from the glasses of others and all the time you intended to drive home.
“You knew you were over the limit, you knew you were incapable of driving.
“You left the road at relatively low speed, but you left the road because you were so drunk and you could not steer around the corner in front of you. All of this could have been avoided.
“You could have walked home, you could have got a taxi home, there were a whole host of other things you could have done that did not involve getting in a car when you were as drunk as you were.”
‘SCAR LEFT FOREVER’
In a victim personal statement read out at court, Kyle’s father said: “I cannot put into words the hurt and pain losing Kyle has inflicted on our lives.
“No parent should have to bury a child in any circumstances. But the fact that this needless waste of life was caused by a conscious decision made by someone else makes this even more unbearable.
“I now struggle to look into the future and towards the good things that might happen. Now I just wait for the bad things to turn up.
“Losing a child at any time, let alone in such tragic circumstances changes you mentally and physically.
“People keep on saying it will get better over time. I’m struggling to believe that. I think the wound will heal in time but the scar that is left behind will be there forever.
“Kyle lost his life because of Lucy Pegler’s decision to drink drive even though the journey home would have been a ten-minute walk.
“We as a family hope she receives the full punishment she deserves not only to make her pay for what she has done but hopefully send a message out to others of how that decision can take lives and destroy others.”
‘I HOPE SHE ROTS’
After her sentencing, a member of Kyle’s family shared on social media: “Nothing will ever bring back Kyle or fix the hurt that has been done to us all. Today has been a hard day. Her and her family were so cold today in court, glaring over at us no remorse what so ever.
“The time she got was not enough but no time would ever be. I hope she rots in there as short time it may be.”
Kyle played football for Bakewell Town FC.
A spokesperson for his club said: “Bakewell Town FC is devastated to learn of the passing of one of our town, Kyle Shimwell, at the young age of 21.
“BTFC will do all it can to support Kyle’s family and plans are being put in place to ensure his memory lives on and that we make him proud. Our thoughts are with Kyle’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
He started out at Bakewell Town in the under-sixes.