A van driver whose careless driving on the A6 near Penrith caused the death of a 74-year woman has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Moments after the crash which caused the death of Ann Miller, Colin Hodgson, 30, told the shocked driver of the car he collided with that he had been looking at his sat nav.

The tragedy happened at 12.30pm on August 9, 2017, as Mrs Miller was being taken to see her husband at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary where he was being treated for cancer.

Hodgson was orginally charged with causing death by dangerous driving. But the prosecution accepted his plea to the alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.

Hodgson was driving south in his Mercedes Sprinter van, intending to deliver a sofa, and he caused the accident by turning right across the northbound carriageway at the road's Plumpton Foot Junction - directly into the path of the VW Golf that was being driven in the opposite direction by Mrs Miller's daughter Louise Lovell.

Despite her braking hard, there was nothing Ms Lovell could do to avoid the collision.

Mrs Miller - from Penrith but originally from Carlisle - was described by the judge in the case as a devoted family lady and valuable member of her community. She died from her injuries in a Newcastle Hospital six days later.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Davies said: "Ann Miller was 74 years of age; and everything I have read about her tells me she was a devoted family lady. She was a valued member of the community.

"She was a loving wife, a loving mother; and someone whose love and affection was valued by all who knew her.

"Nothing I can say today will make the pain and loss of those who loved her feel any better. Her life was priceless."

There was no suggestion of excessive speed, Hodgson's lawyer said, adding: "What's happened has had a profound effect on him - he's become more quiet; more withdrawn."

As well as imposing a 24-week jail term which he suspended for two years, Judge Davies ordered that Hodgson, a father-of-two, should do 180 hours of unpaid work in the community and serve a two month 7pm to 7am curfew.

Hodgson was banned from driving for 18 months and must pay a £115 surcharge.