A woman has been jailed after causing the death of her partner by dangerous driving when the couple left a family holiday in Center Parcs to pick up drugs.
Demi-Elise Michaud, 25, was driving her dad's Kia Creed when she smashed into a bridge with such force that that the car ripped in two on November 27, 2019.
Passenger Matthew Brown, 22, was thrown from the vehicle and died instantly during the horror crash on the A590 between Backbarrow and Haverthwaite.
He was described by his heartbroken family as "a loving father and stepfather" to Michaud's two children, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Paul Cummings, prosecuting, told the Preston Crown Court that the couple had been enjoying a family holiday at Centre Parcs near Penrith with their two children and Michaud's parents.
However the couple left the park to go and buy drugs, he said.
Moments before the crash, Matthew was sending text messages from Michaud's phone, with her involvement, and was urinating into a beer bottle. The road was dark, wet, and poorly lit, Mr Cummings said.
Michaud lost control of the vehicle as she approached a bridge, while travelling at 60mph. She veered onto a grass verge before colliding with the parapet.
Matthew's seatbelt snapped and he was thrown from the vehicle, landing in the road "some distance" from the car.
At 1.20am, two police officers on patrol came upon the "scene of devastation", two miles outside Newby Bridge. Michaud told them: "I lost concentration and hit a wall."
Tests concluded the driver had consumed a small amount of alcohol but was not over the legal limit to drive.
Her mobile phone revealed the pair had left the children at Centre Parcs with their grandparents - however the drugs they were buying did not play a part in the collision, the court was told.
Mr Cummings said: "It is accepted that her speed was a contributory factor. It is possible she mistook a lay-by for the start of the dual carriageway, which may have contributed to her misjudgement."
Oliver Jarvis, defending, said Michaud had been in a relationship with Matthew since her oldest child was born. The couple had gone on to have another child, who was six months old at the time of the collision.
He said Michaud has taken care of her two children since the collision and has been "doing what she has to do to do right by Matthew since that terrible, terrible night".
Following his death, Matthew's family said: "Matthew was a loving son, grandson and brother. He was also a very devoted father, stepfather and family man. He will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew him."
Michaud, of Blawith, Ulverston, pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous driving. The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, handed down a sentence of 14 months in prison.
He said he did not lose sight of the impact on the children of losing their mother to custody for even a short period.
However he said the children would be cared for by their grandparents, giving some stability.
He said: "This is an offence in which the appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody."
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