Linda Harris: Drink driver Jamie Abdale jailed for killing much-loved NHS worker, aged 76

A drink driver who killed a much-loved 76-year-old NHS worker in Birmingham has been jailed.

Jamie Abdale was over the legal alcohol limit and subject to a driving ban when he was responsible for the death of Linda Harris on 22 July, 2021. Mrs Harris had been turning right out of Wentworth Way when she was hit by Abdale, who was driving towards Harborne.

Abdale, who had an expired provisional licence and was disqualified from driving following a drink-driving conviction, hit Mrs Harris’ car, causing both vehicles to end up on the grass verge adjacent to Wentworth Way.

When officers arrived at the scene they found a significant amount of alcohol related items including empty cans and bottles of alcohol. He told officers at the scene he had been given a drink of whiskey by an unknown member of the public shortly after the crash.

Although he provided a sample of 34 microgrammes of alcohol, because of the length of time between the crash and the test, it was calculated that at the time he hit Mrs Harris’ car, he would have had a breath alcohol concentration of around 61 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

Abdale, 37, of Lindsey Avenue, Northfield, was jailed for seven and a half years for causing death by careless driving, with a driving ban for seven years and nine months.

Heartfelt family tributes to Linda Harris

A victim statement was read in court by Mrs Harris’ daughter, who said: "Everyone thinks their mom is special, but ours really was. She had an abundance of love which she showered family and friends with.

"She was an NHS worker, still working at 76 providing elderly care and end of life care. She worked all the way through Covid, selflessly thinking of the needs of others first.

"I was so proud to call her my mom. She did not deserve to die in the way that she did. She was cruelly taken from us too soon because of the selfish decisions made by Jamie Abdale. All me and my family can do now is spend every day trying to make her proud - our lives will never be the same again."