The wife of a bus driver who was involved in a fatal collision with a 15-year-old girl has been convicted of driving offences.

Paula Parker was in court today after a double decker bus, driven by her husband Michael John Parker, collided with Sian Ellis on Meadow Lane, outside King Edward VII College in Coalville at 3.30pm on January 28.

Mrs Parker stood trial at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court where she was found guilty of using, causing and permitting no insurance and using, causing and permitting no driving licence.

The 54-year-old, of Baker Street, Coalville, was fined £120, ordered to pay a total of £90 costs and had her driving licence endorsed with eight penalty points.

Mr Parker, 62, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on September 26 where he pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and carrying passengers to danger.

Michael and Paula Parker, of Coalville, arrive at Leicester Magistrates' Court
Michael and Paula Parker, of Coalville, arrive at Leicester Magistrates' Court


The bus driver was given a four year driving disqualification and fined £235.

The couple have been banned indefinitely from holding an operator’s licence, a licence which is needed to operate any kind of commercial haulage or bus company.

Mrs Parker was charged as she was transport manager for the family business, Rigley’s Hire Limited.

The charges relate to a collision in Meadow Lane on January 28 when Mr Parker was driving a double decker bus which operated a commercial service in the Coalville area.

As he drove along Meadow Lane after collecting a full bus of children, he collided with pedestrian Sian Ellis, off Whitwick, who died at the scene.

Inquiries carried out by police found that Mr Parker only had a provisional licence which meant he didn’t have valid insurance.

It was also found that Mr Parker was carrying more than the maximum number of passengers on the bus and that a small number of children were standing near to the lower level windscreen, an area where they shouldn’t be standing.

Detective Sergeant Gary Haines, who led the investigation, said: “The joint police and Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) investigation following the collision found that Mr and Mrs Parker didn’t have the sufficient licences and insurance and were therefore operating illegally.

Sian Ellis died in the collision outside the college



“A subsequent enquiry carried out by the Traffic Commissioner led to the couple being banned indefinitely from holding an operator’s licence, a licence which is needed to operate any kind of commercial haulage or bus company.

“I am satisfied that the courts and Traffic Commissioner have taken the relevant action to remove the defendants from the roads making the roads safer for other road users and cease their unlawful transport operation.”