Family livid as killer Corby driver caught behind the wheel despite ban

He was jailed in 2016 after the fatal crash
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A livid Corby woman says her mum's killer has stuck two fingers up to them after he was caught behind the wheel despite a ban and after taking drugs.

Andrew Den-Drijver was jailed in 2016 after his car careered onto the pavement in Jubilee Avenue when he was more than double the drink-drive limit, killing loving grandmother Janice Buckland.

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He was more told he would spend half of his sentence of five years and two months in custody and would be banned from the roads for four years when he was released in 2018.

Andrew Den-Drijver was jailed after the fatal crash.Andrew Den-Drijver was jailed after the fatal crash.
Andrew Den-Drijver was jailed after the fatal crash.

But on March 23 this year police stopped the 33-year-old in a Vauxhall Astra in Havelock Street in Kettering - and found him with cannabis and to be over the drug-drive limit.

Janice's furious daughter Lisa told the Northants Telegraph: "I am absolutely livid. If the sentence for what he did to my mum was higher maybe he would have learned from it.

"It's just shocking and so selfish to do that. He's stuck two fingers up to everyone and it's clear he doesn't care."

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Den-Drijver, formerly of Ripley Walk in the town, was above the drug-drive limit for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) and gave a reading of 5.3mcg of drug per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mcg. He also had no insurance.

Flowers left at the scene in 2015.Flowers left at the scene in 2015.
Flowers left at the scene in 2015.

He admitted all charges facing him at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court last month and appeared from HMP Peterborough, although it's not clear whether he had been recalled to prison or was on remand.

Magistrates gave him a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and issued another 18-month driving ban - which Lisa described as "a joke".

The 40-year-old said: "It's another kick in the teeth. People like him won't learn unless they are properly punished."

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Janice, who worked at Neilsen Clearing House for 20 years, was walking on the pavement with some shopping when she was hit by Den-Drijver's Renault Megane at about midday on January 24, 2015.

Janice Buckland was the glue that held her family together.Janice Buckland was the glue that held her family together.
Janice Buckland was the glue that held her family together.

After a vehicle in front stopped at a zebra crossing he had carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a bend, losing control and mounting the kerb.

One witness estimated the speed of Den-Drijver’s vehicle to be 60mph. The speed limit on the road was 40mph.

After being arrested Den-Drijver was breathalysed and gave a reading of 81mcg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

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Northampton Crown Court heard he admitted that he had been drinking beer and vodka until 3am on the day but thought he was “fine to drive.”

Janice, then aged 51, was believed to have died within seconds of the crash.

In 2016 Lisa spoke out against the 'lenient' sentence and said she would appeal against it.

But the appeal was rejected by the Attorney General's office who concluded that 'it would not be appropriate to refer this sentence to the Court of Appeal as they didn't believe that it would be increased'.

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Lisa, a cleaner, still believes that he should have spent at least five years locked up - and has been left on edge fearing that one day she will bump into him.

She said: "How do you face the man who killed your mum?"

Janice was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother who was “at the centre of a very close family.”

She was a carer to her father and had been happily married for 36 years.

Lisa added: "Mum was the glue that held our family together.

"He blew our family apart."