Catterick area: Drink driver who killed beloved mother and grandma in high-speed head-on collision jailed 🚨
Oliver Hartley has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for causing the death of 65-year-old Linda Stockdale by careless driving near Catterick.
The 24-year-old of Bentley Lane, Meanwood, Leeds, was awaiting trial for causing death by dangerous driving.
However, he offered a lesser plea of causing death by careless driving which was accepted by the court.
Hartley appeared at York Crown Court today (Friday 17 October 2025) for sentencing.
He was also banned from driving for six months and will have to take an extended driving test.
The incident happened on the A6055 between Catterick and Leeming Bar at around 2.18am on 1 August 2021.
Hartley was heading south in a black Audi A7 and was involved in a head-on collision with Linda’s blue Kia Ceed – Linda was returning home to Tunstall after baby-sitting her grandchildren.
He had taken the vehicle from his mother’s home in Harrogate without her permission, and he was not insured to drive it.
This was further aggravated by the fact that he had been drinking alcohol prior to driving the vehicle.
Tragically, Linda died at the scene of the collision.
Linda’s family have been provided with specialist support throughout the investigation and court proceedings for the past four years.
Hartley was charged with drink-driving having recorded a range from 119 to 203 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in the evidential test – the prescribed limit for driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
He pleaded guilty to that offence at York Magistrates’ Court on 1 February 2022 and he received a disqualification from driving for 20 months.
The investigation into the collision itself continued.
In addition to the drink-drive conviction, Hartley admitted that he was driving his mother’s car without her permission and without insurance.
Examination of the location data from Hartley’s mobile phone showed that he had travelled up and down the A1(M) and the A6055 seven times, travelling as far north as Scotch Corner prior to the collision well in excess of the speed limit.
Crucially, a technical expert in Position Navigation and Timing reviewed the recovered location data and concluded: “Taking into account this worst-case level of speed accuracy, it can be stated that immediately before the collision and for at least 14 seconds, the vehicle carrying the Phone was recorded at a speed (based on 10-second averaging) between 95 and 105mph.” Adding: “Despite slowing down, it is likely that the speed was least 72mph at the point when it collided with the Kia.”
The Forensic Collision Investigator eliminated any environmental factors and vehicle defects as a contributory factor, concluding “the primary cause to be the driver of the Audi travelling on the incorrect side of the road, whilst lost and intoxicated”.
🗣️ Following the sentencing, DC Laura Cleary, of the Major Collision Investigation Team, said: “Linda’s death has brought immeasurable heartache to her family, and our thoughts remain with them.
“They have shown remarkable strength and dignity whilst awaiting the conclusion of this long-running case.
“I hope they find some comfort in the outcome at court, but nothing can make up for what happened to Linda.”
🗣️ DC Cleary added: “As for Hartley, he showed an appalling lack of concern to the safety of other road users.
“He got behind the wheel of his mother’s car when he did not have permission to drive, was uninsured and intoxicated with alcohol.
“Hartley then drove at excessive and inappropriate speeds immediately prior to the head-on collision which took Linda’s life.
“He now has to face the consequences of his dreadful actions.”
Family’s victim personal statements read out at court…
Linda’s son, Philip Stockdale 🌐
“Linda Stockdale, my mum, was such a kind, thoughtful, caring, and beautiful person. Her loss has been devastating for so many, not only family but many lifelong friends, colleagues, and neighbours.
It has been extremely difficult for me to put into words the impact of losing my mum as I simply don’t think I can do her justice.
She was such a special lady who had a positive impact on so many people’s lives. She cared for everyone in our family from the youngest, my six-month old son, right to Chris’ (Linda’s partner) mum in her 90’s.
Not only that she supported so many children over her 35+ year career in childcare. Some of these children perhaps had a difficult start in life or had additional needs, but she made such an impression that some felt the need to attend her funeral 30 or more years after they left her care.
I’m so proud of her and what she achieved and incredibly lucky to call her my mum.
Since the accident any special moment in our lives, my son’s first steps, his first words, my daughter learning to ride a bike, my 40th birthday, have all been tainted by the fact she didn’t get to see them.
Instead of them being proud happy times, I’m left thinking I wish she could see this or worse, the split second when I think I can’t wait to tell her about this. But I can’t.
This may be my victim statement, and although it hurts every single day, I will carry on because that’s exactly what she would have wanted me to do.
The real victims here though are the ones that can’t speak here in court today.
My mum who worked so hard her whole life and was only four days from retiring, only the have that retirement and all her plans stolen.
And her grandchildren who have had such a special person taken away from them.
Grandma days were the highlight of their week packed with activities, adventures and treats.
The pain and heartache this has caused to them is immeasurable and we will probably never truly understand the damage it did to them, but I do know I have spent many late nights with a three-year-old little girl who’s already been awake for 16 hours too scared to go to sleep in case her mummy and daddy disappear in the night like her grandma did. I’m still doing it now four years on.”
Linda’s daughter, Lisa Roper 🌐
“It’s impossibly hard to even try to describe the devastating feeling of losing a parent to anyone who hasn’t been through it, never mind the loss of someone as amazing as my mum.
She was an incredible lady, so kind and understanding, so smiley and positive, simply a person everybody loved. She was the heart of our family, the very core that kept us together and she was there for everybody whenever they needed it.
She was an amazing friend and teacher and so many people miss her so dearly.
The sense of loss doesn’t ever leave you, even four years on it is there every day, in everything we do, in every new event everything is spoilt because we can no longer share it with my mum.
Having to have that heartbreaking conversation with my children to explain that their favourite person in the world was gone was devastating. To tell them there would be no more grandma days, no more sleepovers, no more grandma adventures!
They have such wonderful memories with her but have had so many stolen from them, golden time that she could watch them grow into the wonderful young people they are turning out to be. She would have been so proud!
I used to spend hours on the phone with mum just setting the world to rights, my husband was always amazed we had anything left to talk about, but it was all the little things that feel so unimportant to anyone else, but we understood each other as only a mother and daughter could.
My mum would have been 70 this year and I often think about what would have been, what would her retirement look like, probably filled with gardens, friends, walks, baking and most importantly her grandchildren, all taken away from her far too soon.
The last four years have been torture for everyone, no real answers given and the painful constant reminder of the accident being with us all the time.
We feel that this could have been avoided, and we could have been able to move on with our lives, remembering my mum for the happy, bubbly, caring person she was rather than sitting here today over four years later.
This accident has left such a huge gap in our lives that we struggle with every day and will do for the reast of our lives.”
Linda’s partner, Christopher Gall 🌐
“Linda and I were together for 25 years. We were besotted with each other, and we did absolutely everything together. Losing Linda has changed my life completely, it turned my whole world upside down.
We had retirement plans that we never got to experience. Linda was due to retire a week after the incident, and we had so many plans. It was our time to enjoy together and that has been stolen away from me and the family.
Linda was an amazing woman. She worked with disabled children and was a phenomenal person who dedicated her life to helping others. She was my whole world. She was thought of so much by our local community that there is a plaque dedicated to her by a tree in the village we lived in. Sheer admiration for the devotion Linda showed to helping others.
When I lost Linda four years ago, I could barely function. I had to take time off work which meant I didn’t get paid which has its knock-on effects in day-to-day life. I struggled with losing her so much that this has caused me so much stress and impacted on my physical health. I have suffered with a blood clot in my eye meaning I needed over 39 appointments and a multitude of injections. This was all caused from the stress and upset of the cruel way we lost Linda. I had counselling for nearly a year to try to come to terms with this and how to come to accept the new reality of a life without her.
Linda was the backbone of the family; we shared a lovely home together for many years however when Linda died, I had to move. It was the family hub where all our families got together and spent many occasions together.
All the memories we shared there, and I had to leave. Linda had children of her own and I felt responsible to ensure they were cared for. By moving I was able to give them some monetary stability which I know Linda would want and I had to rebuild my life without her. How can I do that when she was the pillar of it?
I won’t live half the life I did without Linda. I don’t know what my future holds but I know that every day since Linda losing her life, has stood still for me. Each day has been extremely hard.
I want to say that because of the acts of Mr Hartley, our family have struggled every day since.
I can see the pain in their eyes when we talk. Losing a loved one changes you in ways you could never imagine. People treat you differently, you lose friends because they struggle to know what to say to you. Linda should be with me now enjoying our retirement together, but the reality is that she isn’t. I had a wonderful 25 years with her, but it wasn’t enough. No time would ever be enough.
I no longer sleep properly; I wake in the night in a panic because Linda isn’t there. I worry and then I remember. I live this life I never wanted or ever imagined.
The last four years have been the worst of my life because of the actions Mr Hartley made that night when he had no right to be there. Why was he there?
I lost the woman that loved me and who I loved dearly. We were together all the time, and she was my best friend. Linda was my whole heart and soul.
Four years to get to this point has been torturous and could have been avoided had it not been for the chosen actions of Mr Hartley. You destroyed so many lives that night.
Linda was the best of the best.”
