Death-crash OAP dealt with under Mental Health Act

Edward Salt, 68, of Church Hill, was judged unfit to stand trial following the death of Robert Westcott in a head-on crash near Hatton in August 2009. He had been charged with causing the death by careless driving while nearly double the legal drink-drive limit.

Mr Westcott, 37, of Luton, was on his way to an international meet of Mini enthusiasts in Birmingham.

After hearing that there was no dispute over what happened, but that Salt was suffering from worsening dementia, a jury at Warwick Crown Court in July agreed not that he was guilty, but that he “did the alleged act”.

Following such a finding, a judge can only impose an absolute discharge, which would be inappropriate in such a serious case, supervision or a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

And at another hearing at Warwick in November, Judge Robert Orme said: “The court has to be satisfied there is absolutely no chance of him picking up a set of keys and getting into a car again.”

At Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, Salt was dealt with under the Mental Health Act and supervision order conditions included that he lives where specified by a social worker, treatment under the direction of a consultant and the order is managed under the supervision of a social worker.