North East hit-and-run killer driver admits causing death of ‘lovely’ mother

Reece Roberts, of Sunderland, ploughed into Diane Jones as she crossed and road then left the scene

13:31, 17 Mar 2026

Reece Roberts has admitted causing death by dangerous driving(Image: Northumbria Police)

A banned and uninsured killer driver is facing a substantial prison sentence after he admitted causing the death of a "lovely" mother in a Valentine's Day hit-and-run. Diane Jones was crossing a road when she was ploughed into by a Volvo XC90 driven by Reece Roberts, who then left the scene as she lay fatally injured.

The collision happened on the A690 Durham Road, in the Farringdon area of Sunderland[1], on February 14 this year. Diane, 59, of Thorney Close, in Sunderland, died at the scene.

Now Roberts, 27, of Florida Street, Sunderland, has pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving.

During a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court[2] in which he appeared on a video-link from prison, he also admitted causing Diane's death while disqualified from driving and while uninsured. He denied a charge of aggravated vehicle taking and prosecutors will not pursue that allegation.

Adjourning sentence until May and further remanding him in custody, Judge Tim Gittins told him: "You have pleaded guilty to these serious matters and the next stage is for you to be sentenced.

"I'm directing a pre-sentence report so you need to make yourself available to the probation service. Ultimately, you will be sentenced on the 13th of May and you will be produced at court for that.

Diane Jones, 59, died after being struck by a car in Sunderland(Image: Family Handout)

"You will appreciate, a substantial sentence of imprisonment is likely to follow but you will receive significant credit for your early guilty plea, tendered today."

Judge Gittins added: "It only remains for me to pass on my sincere condolences to Ms Jones' family."

Sgt Greg Huntley, of Northumbria Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said previously: "I can't begin to imagine the pain that Diane's loved ones are experiencing - as they process this devastating loss."

We reported last month how more than ?12,000 had been raised in memory of "lovely, hard-working" Diane.

In the days after Diane's tragic death[3], colleagues of her daughter Hannah Jones set up a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising[4] money which would go towards funeral and burial services.

Within four days, the fundraiser had raised ?12,472.

Donna Potts, 45, who helped set up the fundraiser and works with Hannah, 29, as part of a mental health team in East Durham, expressed her happiness at the success of the GoFundMe. She said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. When we heard the news [of Diane's death] at work we said we had to help out and decided to set up the fundraiser.

"Diane worked juggling two jobs as a cleaner and was trying to pay her mortgage off, she didn't have a lot of money.

I've known Hannah for around three or four years and she was renovating a new property. Diane was always there helping her out. She was just a lovely, hardworking person.

"She was a single mam and had brought Hannah and her brother Paul, 23, up.

She was always wanting to be there for them."

Donna, from Sunderland, added: "Diane had been to see a singer with a friend at the Dolphin pub and was on her way home when she was hit by a car. I knew her as Hannah's mam, but she was such a hard working person who was always trying to look after Hannah and Paul as best she could, she was lovely.

"Hannah also has a little balloon business and Diane was always helping out and setting balloons up. She was always there and she's going to be a massive miss.

They were a lovely, close family."

Donna added: "[When the fundraiser was set up] the Sunderland community spirit kicked in and loads of people have donated. Hannah was so overwhelmed by everybody's kindness, she's so grateful.

"I think it's probably eased some of the financial worry, but it doesn't take away the loss of her mam. It's still going to be painful."

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References

1. ^ Sunderland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Newcastle Crown Court (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ after Diane's tragic death (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^ set up a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising (www.gofundme.com)
5. ^ Here's more information (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
6. ^ clicking here (www.google.com)
7. ^ sign up to receive it here (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)