Haulier jailed over wife's lorry crush death
A former police officer has been jailed for five years after his wife was crushed to death by his lorry.
Josephine Lamb, 58, died outside the couple's home at Quarry Park Stables in Wardley Lane, Gateshead, in July 2009.
Graeme Lamb, 48, told Newcastle Crown Court he hoped she would move out of the way as he tried to drive off.
Lamb had drunk half a bottle of Bacardi before he got into the truck. He was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
The court heard the couple lived in a caravan at their stable yard and had a series of drunken rows in the months before Mrs Lamb's death.
Lamb said he dialled 999 immediately after he ran over his wife.
The jury was told Mrs Lamb was possessive and the couple had a succession of sometimes violent disagreements.
On the night of the death, Lamb got into the cab of his Scania flat-bed lorry because he wanted to get away from the yard despite having drunk the Bacardi, the court heard.
He told police he drove the lorry up to the gates, which Mrs Lamb had closed, and tried to push them open with the lorry.
She was pinned against the gates and was crushed underneath the vehicle as he drove off.
Lamb was originally charged with manslaughter but the charge was changed during the trial.
The court also heard how Mrs Lamb was jealous of her husband's friendship with employee, Jacqui Brunton.
Judge John Milford said: "I note that not much more than three months after the incident, you were cohabiting with the very Jacqui Brunton, of whom the deceased was so suspicious."