A thief who killed a woman when he pushed her over as he ran off with socks worth just £66 was jailed for manslaughter today.
Shoplifter Joseph Smith was fleeing from Sports Direct in Sunderland when he shoved Christine Vasey, 68, to the ground, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Mrs Vasey, a Sunderland fan from Doncaster who was on her way to the Stadium of Light, died from head injuries sustained days after she fell to the pavement on Oct 26 last year. Smith, 37, who admitted offences including manslaughter and theft, was jailed for six years and must then serve a further four years on extended licence on his release from prison. He had a history of violent and dishonest offending, and had just stolen three packs of socks from Sports Direct when he knocked over Mrs Vasey, prosecutor Emma Dowling said. As he fled store staff, he rounded a blind corner at speed and encountered Mrs Vasey and her husband. The couple were keen Sunderland fans and had been spending time in the city centre ahead of the club’s game against Oxford Utd that day.
Smith had with no concern that she had fallen backwards and hit her head on the ground making an “horrific” sound, Ms Dowling said. She died on 1 November at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle due to a devastating skull fracture and brain injury. A Sports Direct worker pursued Smith to the Stadium of Light metro where the thief threw punches. Another worker had tried to help Mrs Vasey.
He was arrested shortly after the incident, still in possession of the socks, and was also found to be carrying cannabis. Mrs Vasey’s family described her as a vibrant and outgoing woman who had been “ripped” from their lives by a “reckless act”.
She and her husband had been childhood sweethearts and soulmates, and had been looking forward to retirement together.
Her husband had been left devastated by the loss of the “love of his life” and still suffered regular flashbacks and guilt that he had been unable to protect his wife, the court heard.
It was said he could no longer go back to their shared home or watch football matches because of the memories it triggered of happy times spent with Mrs Vasey, and her “senseless” death had “stolen the joy and purpose” of his life.
Mrs Vasey had worked as group accounts manager at Riverside Motor Group for many years. and was a popular colleague, with so much life left to live, the court heard.
She had been looking forward to her imminent retirement, with a first-class trip to Australia booked.
The company’s director, Mark Denton, said she was “irreplaceable” and an “exceptional colleague, dear friend and wonderful human being” who still had “so much living to do”.
Her death had left a “massive hole”, he added. Smith, of Halstead Square in Sunderland, had 15 offences on his record, among them multiple thefts, robbery, possessing a knife and throwing a can into a police officer’s face.
He “could not articulate the sadness” he felt about causing Mrs Vasey’s “tragic death” by his “one simple selfish act”, the court heard.
Recorder of Newcastle Paul Sloan KC said the theft had been “brazen” and there was a “very real risk” Smith would encounter other people as he “hurtled round a blind corner”. He said Smith would have known he had hurt Mrs Vasey but, instead of offering aid, he had sprinted away.
Judge Sloan said the Vaseys’ hopes of a happy retirement had been “obliterated” by Smith, and her husband’s future had been “destroyed” by her death.
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