A HAMPSHIRE woman died after being knocked down by a driver distracted by her phone, a court heard.

Sheila Watson had just bought herself an ice cream when she was hit by a Volkswagen Tigura in Haydock Close, Totton.

The 74-year-old pensioner was rushed to hospital but died three days later after being taken off life support.

Prosecution barrister, Mary Aspinall-Miles, told how she suffered “unsurvivable head injuries”.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Michelle Ashley was charged with causing death by careless driving.

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Daily Echo: Sheila WatsonSheila Watson

The 46-year-old of Tadburn Road, Romsey pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

Ms Aspinall-Miles said that at the time of the incident on March 23 last year, Ashley had three mobile phones in her vehicle - all of them were turned on.

And, that she was distracted while driving “almost certainly by a mobile phone which went off”.

Ashley had been turning into Haydock Close to go home and hit Mrs Watson as she walked from behind an ice cream van.

However, according to a traffic incident report, Ashley had been travelling at no more than 15mph and possibly less.

She was tested for drugs and alcohol at the scene but the results were negative.

During a police interview, she told officers that she did not see Mrs Watson until she was in front of her. And simply did not see her until it was “too late”.

In a victim personal statement, Mrs Watson’s daughter said how her mother had lived a full and active life.

She described the incident as a tragic accident that could have been avoided.

Speaking on behalf of her family she added: “Our lives will never be the same.”

Defending, Adrienne Knight said her client “can’t find the words to describe how sorry she is for this awful incident”.

She said how Mrs Watson had been a friend and a neighbour.

Ms Knight argued that the phone that went off had been used for a charity set up by Ashley during the first coronavirus lockdown to support elderly and vulnerable people.

Judge Christopher Parker QC handed her an 18-month community order to include 200 hours of unpaid work.

She has been disqualified from driving for 15 months.