Britain’s youngest Mega Lottery winner has been spared jail after a car crash that left a beloved grandmother dead.
Matt Topham, 31, was behind the wheel of a BMW when he smashed into a Ford Fiesta carrying Mary Jane Regler, 75, on Christmas Day 2019 in North Cockerington, Lincolnshire.
Mary Jane Regler died and her husband, Rodney, 78, who was driving, was seriously injured.
The dad-of-three, who won big on the Euromillions nine years ago, said he was “distracted” by his crying two year old in the moments before the crash, the Daily Mirror reports.
He told police he turned around for “up to three seconds” to pick up a teddy bear which had fallen.
Lincoln Crown Court heard that Topham then looked up in “horror” to see his BMW X6 had strayed into the path of a Ford Fiesta.
He had just left Rushmoor Country Park, where he had been visiting his in-laws with his wife, who had set off earlier in another vehicle, and two children.
Jane died of a severe chest injury, while Rodney suffered a fractured right heel and ankle, a fractured sternum and ribs, and three cracked vertebrae.
On Thursday, March 11, Topham admitted causing death by careless driving but was cleared by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was given a 16-week suspended sentence along with a one-year driving ban.
He will be electronically tagged and subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am.
In an obituary published in Mary’s local newspaper, Jane’s family said she had been “tragically taken” from them.
They described her as a “much-loved wife, mum, nan and friend who will be sadly missed by all that knew her”.
Her daughter-in-law posted on Facebook after her death: “The sudden death of someone you love is like being punched in the face.
“It takes a while to register what’s actually happened before it properly starts to hurt.
“The bruises and the lasting effects, both physically and psychologically are going to be with you forever.”
Hundreds of mourners wearing bright colours turned out for her funeral at Alford Crematorium.
Top ham won £45 million on the Euromillions in 2012 and has enjoyed the winnings with wife Casey.