Family of Scots gran killed by nurse driving in wrong lane slam 'lenient sentence'

Janette Davidson.
-Credit:Digby Brown


The family of a Scots gran who was killed by a nurse driving in the wrong lane have slammed the driver's "lenient sentence" after she avoided jail. Angela Hislop, 48, smashed into 72-year-old Janette Davidson on the B6397 road near Floors Castle in the Scottish Borders on November 11, 2022.

Hislop's Mercedes-Benz GLE 300 collided with Mrs Davidson's Kia Venga after the nurse was driving in the wrong lane following a 12-and-a-half hour nightshift at Borders General Hospital. Mrs Davidson, from Kelso, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hislop, also from Kelso, appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday after being found guilty of driving into the wrong lane by a majority verdict following a three-day trial. She was given a 12 month home curfew and disqualified from driving during the same period - a direct alternative to custody.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Body pulled from water in Aberdeenshire as police probe 'unexplained' death

READ MORE: First picture of Paisley man who died after disturbance amid police probe

The incident happened on the B6397 near Kelso
The incident happened on the B6397 near Kelso -Credit:Google

Speaking following sentencing, Mrs Davidson's grieving family said the outcome was "far too lenient" and did not "serve a lesson to others".

A statement issued via lawyers Digby Brown said: “Every day we miss Janette – she was the most kind-hearted person and was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and friend. While we do our best to cherish the positive memories we have, we cannot help but remain devastated at the loss of so many milestones we have missed with her.

“The manner of her passing remains painful to us worsened only by the trauma of what we felt was an unnecessary trial – to us, we feel this suggests the driver had no remorse, thinking only of herself instead of doing the right thing. While we know that no sentence will ever bring Janette back, we feel today’s outcome is far too lenient and does not reflect our pain, the value of Janette or serve a lesson to others.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our priority now is to move forwards in relative peace as we look to the future and try to continue to live with the same positivity and values she lived by. We’d like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us over the last two years – friends, family and beyond – and we now ask that our privacy is respected as we move forwards.”

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.