THE daughter of a pensioner who died after an horrific car crash has reacted to a court sentencing of the driver.

Patricia Rudkin suffered from dementia and loved ones paid for Complete Care NW Ltd to send carers to her home in Woodhey Road, Ramsbottom, three times a day.

Carer Alexandra Donohoe picked up the 85 year and drove a 3.7-mile route to Holden's Ice Cream in Blackburn Road, Edgworth.

On the way, Donohoe, who is also known as Sandra, pulled out outside the White Horse pub at the junction of Broadhead Road and Bury Road in Edgworth and her Peugeot 206 smashed into a Bentley Continental car at 2.40pm.

Mrs Rudkin suffered a punctured lung, cracked ribs, a broken leg and broken wrists and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital.

She died from her injuries two weeks later.

Donohoe was subsequently charged with causing death by careless driving and, having admitted the offence at an earlier hearing, the 55 year old, of Avondale Avenue, Bury, was sentenced at Burnley Magistrates Court on July 30.

District Judge James Clarke ruled that it was "more than a momentary lapse of concentration" and said Donohoe "owed a duty of care" to her passenger.

She was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for a year, ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and to pay £85 court costs and banned from driving for three years.

After the hearing, Mrs Rudkin's daughter Chantal Rudkin said: "The last 13 months have been a very difficult time.

"I feel that no sentence will ever reflect the enormous loss and devastation my family have suffered and the unthinkable pain and suffering that my mum had to endure for the final two weeks of her life, knowing that this tragedy could have been prevented.

"The fact that Sandra Donohoe remains an employee of Complete Care NW Ltd, caring for the elderly and vulnerable, only exacerbates this."

Mrs Rudkin also claimed no one from the company had apologised after the crash, but the company's owner Wayne Bannister insisted that that was untrue.

He said: "I attended Mrs Rudkin's funeral and have apologised to the family in person.

"We are sincerely sorry to the family for our involvement in this tragic incident."

It is understood that internal Complete Care NW disciplinary proceedings against Donohoe have started and a decision will be taken about her suitability to work with the company once they are over.

Mr Bannister said he could not comment on ongoing disciplinary matters and added that the reputation of his company as a responsible, high-quality and well-respected organisation was his priority.