A judge jailed a 23-year-old woman who sideswiped a cyclist while banned from getting behind the wheel because of a drunk driving conviction.
Ontario Court Justice Richard Lajoie handed Sarah Prout-Barrett 21 days in jail Thursday — her lawyer had asked for house arrest — and a stern lecture about her bad choices and bad driving.
“Clearly there’s a lack of judgement and a complete disregard and disrespect for court orders,” Lajoie said.
“She thought she could do what she wanted, when she wanted.”
Prout-Barrett pleaded guilty in December to driving while disqualified because of an earlier impaired driving charge.
She was driving a silver Cadillac on Aug. 18, 2009 and trying to merge onto the Airport Pkwy. when she struck competitive cyclist Jim Borrens — sending him flying — then drove over his $6,000 bike.
Borrens was treated by paramedics for cuts and bruises and needed stitches.
Lajoie noted the woman hadn’t flouted her driving prohibition once. It had been an ongoing pattern after her Feb. 2009 conviction.
“The message must go out not only to Ms. Prout-Barrett but to all other people who are suspended or prohibited drivers that such flouting of court orders will have serious consequences,” Lajoie said.
Prout-Barrett will be allowed to serve her sentence on weekends so she can keep her job. She was also sentenced to 12 months probation and 40 hours of community service.
I think this sentence is appropriate for the purpose of denunciation and specific deterrence of this woman. She only has to serve her sentence on weekends but it sends a message to her that her actions were dangerous and that she should not be breaking her conditions again, or worse could happen.
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