Texting driver sentenced to seven months over death of County Durham man

20-year-old Katie Foster has been sentenced to seven months** **at Durham Crown Court after admitting causing death by careless driving in relation to the death of Lee Cain.

36-year-old Lee, from West Cornforth, died when Foster's red VW Polo collided with his silver Peugeot 206 on the A668 West Auckland bypass in March 2016.

The then 19-year-old had sent a text 25 seconds before the smash and received one nine seconds before the smash. She had the phone beneath her leg.

Lee had worked with his father and younger brother, Bradley at the family’s tyrefitting business in Spennymoor and had been with his partner, Jill for two years before the crash.

On behalf of all the family his mother, Gail and father, Brian said at the time of Lee's death:

“We are devastated by what has happened. Lee was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend and words cannot describe the hole in our hearts now that he is no longer with us.

“Lee loved spending time with his friends and family, especially his young nephew, Lewis. He was a regular at the Square and Compass pub, where he could often be found telling jokes and recounting funny stories about himself.

“He was strong, tough, loveable and kind and would do anything for anyone."