Aimi McCaffery: Nottinghamshire driver who fell asleep and killed mum-of-two jailed

A Nottinghamshire driver who killed a mother-of-two after falling asleep at the wheel has been jailed.

Aimi McCaffery, 46, was on a morning jog in Cropwell Butler when Glen Widdowson’s BMW veered onto the wrong side of the road, struck a kerb and hit her from behind at around 50mph.

Widdowson, 48, of Addington Court in Radcliffe-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at a previous hearing in August.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been working as a night manager at a Leicestershire hotel throughout the previous evening and was returning home after finishing a shift.

‘Wonderful mother’

Nottinghamshire Police said Widdowson was caught on CCTV veering towards the wrong side of the road.

After failing to follow a slight left-hand bend or apply the car’s brakes, he mounted the kerb with two wheels and hit the victim.

With no defects found on the car and no alternative explanation offered by Widdowson, it was concluded he must have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Mrs McCaffery, a mother of two, was described as “a wonderful mother, daughter and loving friend” by her family.

She was jogging on the correct side of the road and facing oncoming traffic, in accordance with the Highway Code, when she was hit.

Several other motorists stopped and attempted to resuscitate Mrs McCaffery, but nothing could be done to save her life.

Widdowson had been previously diagnosed with sleep apnoea in 2016 – a condition that disrupts sleep and adds to fatigue.

‘Utterly tragic’

He was taking his usual route home through country lanes, was not speeding and remained at the scene of the collision, officers said.

Widdowson was jailed for three years and six months at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, September 26.

He was also banned from driving for four years and nine months.

Det Con Christopher Taylor said: “This was an utterly tragic incident that robbed a family of a loving mother, wife and friend.

“Aimi did everything right on that dreadful morning and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time as Widdowson drove home from work.

“Her loss has been felt by her family and across her network of friends, and colleagues in the community charity she ran.”