A shoplifter who killed a pensioner by forcefully shoving her out of the way as he fled with stolen socks has been jailed for six years.
Joseph Smith, 37, was running from Sports Direct in Sunderland with three packs of socks worth £66 when he pushed 68-year-old Christine Vasey to the ground.
Vasey, who was visiting the city with her husband Sidney to watch a Sunderland football match, suffered catastrophic head injuries when she struck the pavement.
She died in hospital six days later on November 1.
Joseph Smith, 37, was running out of the shop in the city centre
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Newcastle Crown Court heard Smith rounded a blind corner at speed and used both hands to push Vasey forcefully in the neck and chest area.
The impact caused her to fall backwards, hitting her head on the ground with what witnesses described as a "horrific" sound.
Smith, who had taken cannabis and amphetamine, stole the socks from the High Street West store at around 11.30am on 26 October last year. Staff immediately gave chase after he triggered security alarms.
The court heard the area was busy with shoppers when Smith hurtled around the blind corner into Back Bridge Street. The Vaseys were walking in the city centre ahead of Sunderland's match against Oxford United that afternoon.
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Christine Vasey was pushed to the ground
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A Sports Direct worker stopped to help Christine while another pursued Smith to the Stadium of Light metro station.
Smith attempted to punch the employee who followed him before being arrested shortly afterwards, still in possession of the stolen socks.
Christine was described by her family as an "intelligent and vibrant professional woman" who had worked as a group accounts manager and executive assistant at Riverside Motor Group for many years.
She and her husband Sidney were childhood sweethearts and "soulmates" who had been making plans for their retirement.
Mark Denton, the managing director of her company, said she was "irreplaceable" and added: "I struggle to come to terms with the fact she's no longer with us."
The court heard Sidney has been diagnosed with PTSD following his wife's death and suffers regular flashbacks. He can no longer return to their shared home or watch football matches due to the painful memories they trigger.
Smith, of Halstead Square in Sunderland has 15 previous convictions including theft, robbery, possessing a knife and throwing a can into a police officer's face. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, theft, common assault and possessing cannabis.
Judge Paul Sloan KC said Smith's theft had been "brazen" and there was a "very real risk" he would encounter others as he "hurtled round a blind corner". The judge added that the Vaseys' plans for a happy retirement had been "obliterated" by Smith.
Newcastle Crown CourtGOOGLE STREET VIEWFollowing the sentencing, a family spokesman said: "We'll now take solace at the custodial sentence served today and we hope the offender takes time to reflect upon the horror that his reckless actions brought on us."
In mitigation, Sophie Allison-Howells said Smith had previously been treated for paranoid schizophrenia and "could not articulate the sadness" he felt about causing Christine's death, reports the ChronicleLive.
She added that he is vulnerable and has paranoid schizophrenia. He had not been complying with his medication and had been taking cannabis and amphetamine, the court heard.
