AN ELDERLY woman who caused the death of her friend in a horror crash has been spared prison.

Ella Charlesworth, 87, was driving with friend Gloria Rosato, 86, in April last year.

Gloria was in the front passenger seat and was injured when Charlesworth’s Ford hit a Jeep at the Gleneagles roundabout on the A22 at Hailsham in April last year.

Gloria died in hospital a week later.

Charlesworth was found guilty of causing death by careless driving last week at Hove Crown Court. Judge Christine Henson gave Charlesworth, of Dominica Court, Eastbourne, a conditional discharge for 12 months.

The judge also handed her an 18-month driving ban and ordered Charlesworth to pay £3,500 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Oliver Dunkin said: “These proceedings were about a recognition of that lapse which led to the death of Ms Rosato, and to an extent that is all they were about.”

Charlesworth’s lawyer said:“Whatever punishment the court gives, the overwhelming punishment that Ms Charlesworth lives with is that punishment of her friend’s death.”

The lawyer said Charlesworth had felt “isolated” since the crash.