by Anna White

awhite@thekmgroup.co.uk

A nurse who killed a Gravesend mother-of-three in a road crash has told her family that he will never forgive himself.

Daniel Wellard, 30, made the heartfelt apology in a letter handed to Maidstone magistrates, who he appeared before today (Friday) to be sentenced for causing the death of Deborah Lawson by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Wellard, of Augustine Road, Minster-on-Sea, was driving on the A26 between Teston and Barming, in October of last year, when his car veered onto the other side of the road and collided head-on with Deborah Lawson’s Peugeot 206.

The 48-year-old Darent Valley Hospital nurse, of High View, Vigo, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In the letter, addressed to Mrs Lawson’s family, Wellard said: "In pleading guilty to the charges brought against me, I accept complete responsibility.

"This is something I will never forgive myself for and will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"I feel guilty and I am so very sorry for the pain that I have caused. I want to tell you all, I am and will forever be, profoundly sorry."

Wellard, who was travelling to work at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells at the time of the crash, had dropped a cigarette in his car before the collision.

Speaking in court, Ms Nagalingam, defending, said there was nothing Wellard could do or say that would compensate for the loss of Mrs Lawson’s life and that was he genuinely sorry for her death.

Wellard was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community service and ordered to pay an £85 fine. He is already serving a 12-month diving ban for this offence.

Mrs Lawson, of High View, Vigo, leaves behind her parents Bill and Margaret Regan, who sat in court to hear the sentencing, and her children, twins Elizabeth and Theresa, 23, and Matthew, 28.

In an interview this week, Mr and Mrs Regan, pictured right, said they felt no resentment towards Wellard.