A truck driver who was using his mobile phone when he hit and killed a pensioner in Bourne End and then failed to stop at the scene has been jailed for three years. 

Timothy Mason, 65, was driving a 32 tonne heavy goods vehicle through The Parade in Bourne End when he hit Hilary Haines, 69, who was crossing the road. 

Mrs Haines, a former hairdresser from Great Missenden, was severely injured and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics on May 10. 

A witness saw Mason, who lived in Everest Road, High Wycombe, in the seconds leading up the crash and said that he seemed "pre-occupied".

Call records found that the lorry driver had been on the phone for 12 minutes before the crash, only terminating the call 16 seconds after the point of impact.

Mason failed to stop at the scene but was later found by police and charged with death by dangerous driving.

Mason’s defence initially indicated he would plead guilty to causing death by careless driving, but the CPS did not accept the plea and pursued the more serious charge to which Mason eventually pleaded guilty.

As well as being jailed for three years, he was also banned from driving for five years from the date of his release.

Louise Atrill, from the CPS, said: “This case shows the dangers of using a mobile device while driving. It was an avoidable distraction and a woman has lost her life due to Mason not concentrating on the road.

“The wealth of evidence against him meant he had no choice but to plead guilty to the offence he was charged with. Our thoughts are with Hilary Haines’ family.”