Needham Market man Raymond Hogg jailed after causing death by dangerous driving

A Needham Market lorry driver will serve two years and two months behind bars after his dangerous driving killed a woman on the A12.

Raymond Hogg, of Bridge Street, was sentenced in Ipswich Crown Court today (Wednesday, October 9) having previously pleaded guilty, following a six-vehicle collision on April 20 last year.

Mother-of-six Amanda Snowling, 43, from Ipswich, died at the scene after the crash near Washbrook Copdock Mill interchange.

It was previously revealed Hogg had been making a call around the time of the crash and had been driving at 51mph on cruise control.

Having once delayed the sentencing to today, Judge Martyn Levett gave a four years and four month sentence, half of which should be in custody and half on licence.

Hogg has also been banned from driving for seven years and two months.

The Judge described Ms Snowling's death as a 'tragic loss'.

He said: “The sentence will not compensate for the loss which has had a rippling effect on all of those who are closest to her."

He added: "Dangerous driving cases are among the most demanding for a judge. I have to apply the law as it is and not as I wish it to be."

Eleven members of Ms Snowling's family attended the hearing. She leaves behind two grandchildren as well as her husband Shane - from whom a statement was read out in court.

This said: "We were always together. She was my one and only true love."

Allan Compton, representing Hogg, had said his client’s old age and remorse should be used to mitigate when deciding a sentence.

“He is 69-years-old and of good character. He has not driven since and will regret his actions for the rest of his life."

He added that family members had described him as a 'shell of a man' after the incident.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, described the accident scene - in which Ms Snowling's Mazda car was hit from behind by Hogg's vehicle, and pushed forward into another lorry in front.