'Distracted' driver chatting on hands-free escapes jail after hitting toddlers

A WOMAN who hit two little children, who later died, in her BMW as she chatted on her hands-free phone escaped jail yesterday.

A jury ruled Sharmila Mistry, 41, was not to blame for mounting a kerb and hitting Zofia Tabaka, two, and Oliwier Baczyk, 21 months, in their buggies.

Mistry’s car was shunted towards the toddlers when she collided with a Mini that jumped a red light in Leicester.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said Mistry, of Bushby, was distracted by her phone call and was doing 36mph in a 30mph zone. Oliwier and Zofia died later that day.

Leicester Crown Court cleared her of causing death by careless driving but she was convicted of careless driving.

She was fined £3,000 and banned from the road for 18 months.