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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Text death driver gets four years | Text death driver gets four years |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A teenage driver who caused the death of a woman in a crash as she sent a mobile phone text message has been sent to a young offenders' institute. | A teenage driver who caused the death of a woman in a crash as she sent a mobile phone text message has been sent to a young offenders' institute. |
| Rachel Begg, 19, of Whinbank in Ponteland, admitted sending the message shortly before the collision on the A696, near Newcastle Airport. | Rachel Begg, 19, of Whinbank in Ponteland, admitted sending the message shortly before the collision on the A696, near Newcastle Airport. |
| Maureen Waites, 64, from Wellfield Road North in Wingate died in the crash. | Maureen Waites, 64, from Wellfield Road North in Wingate died in the crash. |
| Begg had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and received a four-year sentence. | Begg had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and received a four-year sentence. |
| She was also disqualified from driving for five years. | She was also disqualified from driving for five years. |
| 'Lives devastated' | 'Lives devastated' |
| Newcastle Crown Court heard that she had used her phone nine times during a 15-minute journey last November. | |
| Her VW Golf collided with a Citroen driven by Mrs Waites who was on the way to pick up a relative from the airport. | Her VW Golf collided with a Citroen driven by Mrs Waites who was on the way to pick up a relative from the airport. |
| Sgt Ian Dey, a motor patrol officer with Newcastle Area Command, said: "This crash has devastated the lives of two families and will have a major impact on them for the rest of their lives. | Sgt Ian Dey, a motor patrol officer with Newcastle Area Command, said: "This crash has devastated the lives of two families and will have a major impact on them for the rest of their lives. |
| "One family has lost a much loved wife, mother and grandmother. The other has to face the consequences of a young woman spending four years in a young offenders' institute. | "One family has lost a much loved wife, mother and grandmother. The other has to face the consequences of a young woman spending four years in a young offenders' institute. |
| "Using your mobile while driving is inexcusable and those who do so are simply not appreciating the consequences of their actions. | "Using your mobile while driving is inexcusable and those who do so are simply not appreciating the consequences of their actions. |
| He added that motorists should be aware that police carry out inquiries to see if a mobile was in use prior to a serious or fatal crash. | He added that motorists should be aware that police carry out inquiries to see if a mobile was in use prior to a serious or fatal crash. |
| A ban on using handheld mobile phones while driving came into force in December 2003. |