A LORRY driver has been handed a four and a half year jail sentence for causing the death of a mum in Altrincham.

Urmston resident Natalie Thorpe, aged 29, died in the incident on Dunham Road, on June 4, 2015.

William Stewart, 25, of Cross Heys Avenue, Birkenhead, was driving a Ford Iveco with the metal stabiliser extended at the side of the vehicle. The leg demolished a traffic light before hitting mother-of-one Natalie as she stood at the pedestrian crossing.

She had just left work at the Elite Dress Agency when she was struck by the metal arm, which threw her along the road.

William Stewart then drove on striking a Volkswagen Golf which was waiting at the junction of Groby Road.

Sadly Natalie was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police found out that Stewart had been involved in a number of incidents in a work vehicle, including demolishing a customer’s wall during a delivery and hitting a member of the public’s vehicle and failing to stop.

He had been dismissed from this company and was in his first week in a new job when this tragedy occurred.

Following the collision the vehicle was inspected and it was found that the crane had been packed away incorrectly and was not correctly secured.

Stewart was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving on Friday August 26 and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Thursday September 29.

He was sentenced to four and a half years behind bars and banned from driving for five years following his release.

PC Paul Joynson, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This tragic incident has taken the life of a young woman due to the negligence of William Stewart and has also robbed an innocent child of their chance to grow up knowing their mum.

“Stewart committed a catalogue of errors and ignored the safety procedures expected of an LGV driver and a crane operator.

“The sentence can never make up for the pain Natalie’s family have endured but I hope that this can help to offer them some closure.”