Violinist dodges jail for cocaine-fuelled crash after suspended sentence loophole

Violinist Victoria Yellop
Violinist Victoria Yellop Credit: Facebook

A classical violinist narrowly avoided jail after crashing into a motorcyclist while high on cocaine as she awaited sentencing for another offence.

Victoria Yellop, a musician who has performed for the Queen, took the Class A drug the night before she hit the man, who was left with life-changing injuries.

The 34-year-old drug addict is already on a suspended sentence after staging a £25,000 fake burglary at a friend's house.

However, district judge Julia Moffatt said she could not activate the suspended sentence, and put Yellop behind bars, as the crash happened before she was sentenced for the last offence.

After the smash she was found to be more than twice the drug-drive limit when she had a '"momentary lapse of concentration" on May 17.

She pulled her grey Mercedes into the path of a white Honda bike in Tonbridge, Kent, sending the motorcyclist flying through the air.

Yellop, who once performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, wept in the dock at Maidstone Magistrates' Court as listened to a victim impact statement.

Yellop has performed for the Queen
Yellop has performed for the Queen Credit:  

Prosecutor Kumud Singh said the victim has been left physically and emotionally traumatised by the crash.

He will have to have a metal pole in his hip for the rest of his life and suffers from poor mobility, is constantly in pain, depressed, unable to work and in financial difficulties.

Former private school pupil Yellop admitted driving without due care and attention and drug driving, and was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence and a six-month curfew from 9pm until 7am.

Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, meets Victoria Yellop at the 2008 Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo, Windsor
Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, meets Victoria Yellop at the 2008 Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo, Windsor Credit: Oli Scarff

She must pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115, and was banned from driving for three years.

In July, she was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting perverting the course of justice, theft and being concerned in the supply of a class A drug after staging a £25,000 fake burglary at a friend's house.

She had been housesitting for an actor friend when her violent and abusive boyfriend, Mark James, pressured her to commit the crime.

They stole £25,000 of goods in a fake burglary including 80 pairs of shoes, more than 40 designer baseball caps, two Tag Heuer watches, a Rolex and an Armani watch.

Yellop reported the "burglary" to police, stating she had returned from a night out to find the front door and window smashed.

But they were caught after neighbours spotted Yellop at the property as the stolen goods were loaded into a van.

Matthew Nickolls, defending, said the affair had destroyed his client's career when her sponsors saw media reports of the trial.

He said she was distraught by what had happened and had not used cocaine since the accident.

The judge said: "With you I have someone who, through no fault of their own, has suffered quite considerably and with the victim I also have someone who, through no fault of his own, has suffered considerably too."

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