Hit-run girl's parents condemn killer driver jailed for cover-up

Joanne Cottage, 17, was run down near her home by unemployed driver Marilyn Aldridge, who failed to stop and sped off from the scene.

Enlisting the help of relatives, the 55-year-old then conspired to cover up the evidence of the crash, racing from the scene, dumping the car and setting fire to it before reporting it stolen.

Joanne was eventually found and taken to hospital, but died a day later from her severe head injuries in the collision.

Following the crash in Shoeburyness, Essex, Aldridge drove to a warehouse where her 39-year-old husband Russell worked. Together with a family friend, Jenny Dickinson, 41, they plotted to cover her tracks. Russell Aldridge dumped the Ford Granada in a car park and set it on fire, while his wife reported it stolen to police.

Yesterday the trio were all given prison sentences for their parts in the conspiracy.

Joanne's parents, Paul and Marian, called Marilyn Aldridge "callous". They said: "We knew there would be nothing that the court could do to bring Joanne back to us but she does deserve justice.

"We recognise that accidents happen but what we cannot come to terms with is how [this driver's] callous reaction in driving away and failure to summon help reflect her disregard for the importance of our daughter's life."

Marilyn Aldridge yesterday admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and having no insurance. She was jailed for nine months by Basildon crown court.

Her husband was jailed for seven months after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was also given 12 points for having no licence or insurance in relation to another matter. Dickinson was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a threemonth home curfew after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Miss Cottage, who wanted to go into banking, was knocked down close to an Asda supermarket near her home on 1 February last year.

Mr and Mrs Cottage, describing their daughter as a "beautiful, sparkling angel", said: "She was cruelly taken from us as a result of this incident.

"She had started her driving lessons, was preparing for her next ski trip to Austria and an interview at HSBC for a new job.

"She brought so much happiness to everyone she met with her crazy sense of humour and caring nature." They added: "There are no words to describe the pain that the family feels. We hope that the circumstances and the sentences will serve to warn others regarding their behaviour on the road and any actions they may have taken in trying to hide the truth."

Police said the attempted cover-up had made the killing even harder for the family to deal with.

Inspector Dick Thomas, of Essex Police, said: "This was a very tragic incident as a result of which 17-year-old Joanne Cottage was struck by a car which failed to stop.

"She was left at the scene with severe injuries from which she subsequently died," he continued.

"This case was tragic for any family to bear but the actions of these defendants has made the loss even harder to bear for Joanne's family."