Architectural historian who starred in Channel 5 show is jailed for over two years after she had a ‘microsleep’ at the wheel and caused a pile-up which killed a husband and wife

• Ellen Leslie, 55, dozed off while driving her son Theo, 21, home to London

By Richard Marsden[1] and Craig Mcglasson[2]

Published: 19:55, 11 January 2024 | Updated: 19:58, 11 January 2024

An architectural historian who had a 'microsleep' at the wheel causing a mini pile-up killing a much-loved husband and wife has been jailed.

Ellen Leslie, 55, an acclaimed heritage consultant and commentator, dozed off while driving her youngest son Theo, 21, home to London[3] from Edinburgh[4].

A court heard Leslie, partner of Oxford University[5] professor, Dr Sloan Mahone, was in driving her GBP20,000 Volkswagen T-Cross SUV when she collided with an oncoming lorry.

Christine and Steven Goodings, who were in the car behind Leslie, died when the truck then ploughed into them.

Leslie - who appeared as an expert on Channel 5[6] show How The Victorians Built Britain in 2018 - was today jailed for 28 months at Carlisle Crown Court having admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ellen Leslie, 55, an acclaimed heritage consultant and commentator, dozed off while driving her youngest son Theo, 21, home to London from Edinburgh

Christine and Steven Goodings (pictured), were in the car behind Leslie, and died when the truck then ploughed into them

Leslie was today jailed for 28 months at Carlisle Crown Court having admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Barker said the family of Mrs Gooding, 61, and her 60-year-old husband had suffered a 'deep and profound' loss.

He said: 'This incident has ruptured and torn their lives for ever.'

Turning to Leslie, Judge Barker told her: 'The court understands that you are not a bad person, though you have done a bad thing which has had truly devastating effects.'

The court heard the tragedy happened on a single carriageway section of the A66 near Warcop, Cumbria just before noon on Monday, 23rd May, 2022.

Video footage from a passing vehicle captured the shocking moment Leslie's vehicle - heading east - drifted across double white lines and into lorry's path.

The goods vehicle driver lost control and hit the Goodings' Volkswagen Golf.

Prosecutor Peter Wilson said: 'Both Christine Goodings and Steven Goodings tragically lost their lives as a result.'

There were gasps from the couple's relatives as footage showing the shocking collision was played in court.

Leslie - a former Guardian of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and who regularly writes about historical architecture for broadsheet newspapers and magazines - took no evasive action.

A police crash investigator concluded, there was no interaction by her with the controls of her car for five seconds before impact. The prosecution said Leslie suffered a 'microsleep' - where people drift off for a few seconds when tired.

Afterwards, she told police she had 'no idea' why the crash occurred, saying she was 'devastated' and maintaining she had not been tired.

But Judge Barker concluded it was 'highly likely' that Leslie briefly fell asleep.

The day before, Leslie and Theo, 21, travelled more than 400 miles from her then home in Chiswick to Edinburgh.

She had woken at around 4am in London and made four planned stops on the way before reaching the Scottish capital.

A court heard Leslie, partner of Oxford University professor, Dr Sloan Mahone, was in driving her GBP20,000 Volkswagen T-Cross SUV when she collided with an oncoming lorry

There, she and her student son moved belongings in two trips from his university digs to a flat over several hours, finishing at 6pm.

She had messaged her partner, Dr Mahone, describing her 'knackering day'.

Separately, she told her ex-husband it had been 'hard work'.

Leslie and her son ate a meal and stayed at Edinburgh's Black Ivy Hotel from 8pm.

Receipts showed four 250ml glasses of wine were ordered but her son later told police he had not drunk alcohol.

Leslie went to bed at 9.30pm and slept until around 7am, although she woke twice during the night.

Before she set out on the fateful drive, she claimed to have 'felt absolutely refreshed'.

The court heard Leslie and Theo stopped for a McDonald's breakfast in southern Scotland, with her drinking a coffee and shot of espresso.

Theo was asleep at the time of the crash.

Leslie, now of Bromley, South East London, accepted responsibility for the Goodings' deaths, adding: 'I'll live with that for the rest of my life.'

She sat with her head bowed in the dock as statements were read by relatives of keen cyclist Steve Goodings, a mechanic and electrician, and retail worker Christine.

The couple, from Sunderland, had been married for almost four decades and 'did most things together', the court was told.

One of their two sons, also called Steven Goodings, 40, said the family's world had been 'turned upside down', feeling 'a ripple of grief, stress, worry, anger, confusion and loss that is still as fresh today as the day that I was given the news'.

Mr Goodings added: 'My parents' lives have been stolen from them and with them their dreams of doing the things they had worked for together.'

He said Leslie - on the day she entered guilty pleas at the same court in late October - had posted on Instagram about a building in Carlisle she liked, and was 'seemingly without a care in the world, like she was on a city break.'

The couple's other son, Gareth, 36, said his life was 'destroyed' on learning of the tragic crash.

He said: 'Losing them both in these circumstances is incomprehensible. I will never overcome this life sentence of grief.'

Leslie must serve a five-year driving ban and pass an extended test before getting behind the wheel although is said to have no intention of ever driving again.

Tributes to the Goodings, who had two grandchildren, were also paid by friends in their close-knit local community where they helped organise parties and sports days.

Locals described them as a 'cracking' couple.

One friend said: 'If I ever wanted anything around here then Steven and Christine would always help.

'The sports days we used to put on for the kids were great and they are happy memories.

The news was just so sad.'

References

1. ^ Richard Marsden (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Craig Mcglasson (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Edinburgh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Oxford University (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ Channel 5 (www.dailymail.co.uk)