AN elderly woman has avoided jail for causing the death of a man in a three-vehicle crash near Bicester, two days before Christmas.

Terence Rabbitts died after a ‘catastrophic crash’ at about 3.30pm on Thursday, December 23, 2021, between the Bicester Heritage Centre and the Stratton Audley junction on the A4421.

Pik Ho, 60, told police she experienced a ‘white out, dizzy spell’ when driving her red Golf and had ‘drifted’ across the single carriageway, hitting Mr Rabbitts’s maroon Rover 75 almost head-on.

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A red Audi A3 driving behind Mr Rabbitts subsequently collided with his vehicle.

Attempts were made to help Mr Rabbitts, who was 87 years old, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Ho, of Cranesbill Drive, Bicester, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on March 4 for one count of causing death by careless driving.

Sentencing her to 12 months imprisonment, suspended by two years, Judge Ian Pringle said: “The effect of Mr Rabbitt's death on the family was enormous.

“It’s worth bearing in mind what a marvellous life he lived.

"You [Ho] told police you had a ‘white out’, became dizzy and lost control of your vehicle.

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“We will never definitively know why your car veered onto the opposite carriageway. All we do know is the consequences were catastrophic.”

Prosecuting the case, barrister Kathy Oliver told the court that Mr Rabbits had been travelling to his son's home for Christmas while Ho had been travelling back to Bicester after shopping in Milton Keynes.

It was heard that both drivers became stuck in their vehicles and Mr Rabbitts had needed to be cut out but his health ‘rapidly deteriorated’.

Ho was also taken to the hospital and has suffered life-changing injuries.

Ms Oliver stated that Ho had visited her GP several times before the crash to complain about the dizzy spells and had even had an MRI scan but nothing had ever been diagnosed.

A victim impact statement was read out by Mr Rabbitts’s granddaughter, Holly, who said: “His loss has left a permanent scar on my heart.

“He was the best granddad I ever could have asked for.”

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Defending Ho, barrister Tabitha Macfarlane described the incident as ‘tragic’.

She said: “[Ho] wishes to take full accountability, to avoid undue suffering for the family - the death of Mr Rabbitts hurts her heart.”

It was heard that Ho has lived an ‘impeccable’ and ‘blameless’ life.

She was disqualified from driving for three years and needs to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Pringle added: “I’m comforted by the fact that you don’t wish to drive ever again.”