A lifelong Sunderland football fan was fatally injured on her way to a game after a fleeing shoplifter slammed into her during a frantic getaway from Sports Direct.
Christine Vasey, 68, was walking with her husband Sidney to watch their beloved team when Joseph Smith, 37, rounded a blind corner at speed and crashed into her – causing her head to strike the pavement with a 'horrific' sound, a court heard.
Smith, a career criminal with a long history of violent and dishonest offences, had just swiped three packs of socks worth £66 from the Sports Direct store on High Street West in Sunderland at around 11.30am on October 26 last year.
He bolted from the scene as staff gave chase but when he turned sharply into Back Bridge Street, he collided forcefully with Mrs Vasey, knocking her to the ground without stopping to check on her condition.
Despite the frantic efforts of passers-by, including a Sports Direct worker who halted the pursuit to help her, Mrs Vasey never regained consciousness.
She died six days later, on November 1, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after suffering a catastrophic skull fracture and brain injury.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that another Sports Direct employee continued the chase, following Smith to the Stadium of Light metro station where the desperate thief lashed out with punches in a bid to evade capture.
Smith was eventually arrested nearby – still clutching the stolen socks. Officers also discovered cannabis in his possession.
Christine Vasey, 68, was walking with her husband Sidney to watch their beloved team when Joseph Smith, 37, rounded a blind corner at speed and crashed into her – causing her head to strike the pavement with a 'horrific' sound, a court heard
Joseph Smithwas eventually arrested nearby – still clutching the stolen socks. Officers also discovered cannabis in his possession
Mrs Vasey, who was from Doncaster, had been a devoted fan of Sunderland AFC for decades.
She had worked as a group accounts manager and executive assistant at Riverside Motor Group in South Yorkshire and had been eagerly planning for retirement – including a first-class holiday to Australia which she was due to take in the coming weeks.
The company's director, Mark Denton, paid tribute to her, saying she was 'irreplaceable', and that the death of an 'exceptional colleague, dear friend and wonderful human being, with so much living to do has left a massive hole'.
Smith had a staggering 15 previous offences on his record – including robbery, theft, possessing a knife and even hurling a can into the face of a police officer.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison by Recorder of Newcastle Paul Sloan KC.
Sophie Allison-Howells, defending, told the court Smith had previously received treatment for paranoid schizophrenia and said he 'could not articulate the sadness' he felt over causing Mrs Vasey's 'tragic death' by his 'one simple selfish act'.
But Judge Sloan said Smith's crime was 'brazen' and that he had shown no regard for the risk to others as he ran blindly through the streets.
He told the court there had been a 'very real risk' the shoplifter would collide with pedestrians, and that Smith would have known he had hurt Mrs Vasey when she fell.
Mrs Vasey, who was from Doncaster, had been a devoted fan of Sunderland AFC for decades
Instead of helping her, the judge said, he 'sprinted away'.
He added that the Vaseys' dreams of a peaceful retirement had been 'obliterated' and that Mr Vasey's future had been 'destroyed' by the senseless and avoidable tragedy.
After the case Mrs Vasey's family issued a statement, saying: 'Christine's death has shocked and saddened all of us.
'We'll remember her as the intelligent and vibrant professional woman that she was.
'She lived life to the full, balancing her zeal for her family, her business, her thrill for travelling and her love of Sunderland AFC.
'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.'
Detective Inspector Steven Brown of Northumbria Police's Major Investigation team said: 'This is a tragic case, and our thoughts remain with Christine's family who are having to mourn the unexpected loss of their loved one.
'I know that today's result is no compensation for the loss of Christine's life, but I do hope it brings some comfort to her family and loved ones.
'The outcome of this crime shows why we take every offence seriously.
'There's no place in our communities for any type of criminality and we will continue to do all we can to deal robustly with those who choose a life of crime.'
