Council official jailed over drink-drive death

A council manager who knocked down and killed a 71-year-old grandfather as she drove home while three times the legal alcohol limit was today starting a five-year jail sentence.

Kate Walker, aged 32, did not have her headlights on when she ploughed into aircraft engineer Brian Metcalfe on Dudley Road, Oldbury at 11pm. Wolverhampton Crown

Court heard how the marketing manager at Sandwell Council, had downed six pints of cider, three vodkas and three gins before getting behind the wheel.

She was so drunk she fell over twice as she tried to get into her Nissan Micra, which she had parked in the mayor's car park at the council house.

She pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drink, failing to stop after an accident and drink-driving.

Jailing her yesterday, Judge Amjad Nawaz told she "took a chance which turned into tragedy."

Prosecutor Mr Howard Searle told the court how Walker, of Luanne Close in Cradley Heath, had started drinking at lunchtime on January 28 at a leaving party for a council colleague.

He said: "She was seen on CCTV at 10.40pm in the mayor's car park. She fell and lay on the ground for 40 seconds. She zig-zagged over to her vehicle and fell on the ground a second time."

She sat in the car for 24 minutes before driving off without her lights on.

Mr Metcalfe was thrown into the air and suffered head injuries when he was hit. Walker drove off and was arrested by police two miles away. A breath test showed 106mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Defending, Mr Lee Marklew said Walker had been drinking heavily following the breakdown of her five-year marriage.