A man who drove over a woman on the street in Bolton after she collapsed  causing her death has apologised to her family, but insisted that he did not realise what he had done.

Lillian Conroy had been with her family on Christmas Day in 2021 and went to visit a relative.

But she turned back on herself on Newbrook Road, Over Hulton, and collapsed in the road at around 7pm.

A Toyota Aygo turned away to avoid a collision with her.

But a Range Rover being driven by Paul Greenslade went past the other vehicle and drove over her causing fatal injuries.

An inquest into the death of Mrs Conroy, from Stonebeck Court, Bolton, took place at Bolton Coroners Court this week.

The cause of death of the 81-year-old was given as chest injuries with an underlying cause of aortic valve stenosis.

Giving evidence, Mr Greenslade, said he had not realised what he had done.

He was asked by Coroner Stephen Pollard: “You must have been aware that you had run over something?”

“I thought I had hit the kerb.”

He was then asked: “Did you look in the mirror?”

Mr Greenslade: “As I drove off I did.”

Following this he was asked: “Did you not see anything in the middle of the road?”

He replied: “I did not.”

Mr Greenslade said he was dropping off relatives who had been at his home for Christmas and came back the same way after the collision and saw emergency services.

He was asked whether that caused him to believe the incident may relate to what had taken place as he turned onto Newbrook Road.

He said: “I did not think I had been involved.”

Stephen Conroy, the son of Lillian, accused him of showing “no remorse whatsoever.”

He said: “I am sorry.”

Janet Carr, the daughter of Lillian, said “It is too little too late.

“You have never said that until now.”

Mr Greenslade said: “I was advised not to during the trial.”

The court heard that the police had passed the case to the Crown Prosecution Service who had declined to prosecute Mr Greenslade, 64 and from Egerton Road, Bolton, for causing death by careless driving.

At Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court, following a trial, he was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and given eight points on his licence.

Coroner Pollard recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

He said: “I am satisfied she was still alive before the Range Rover went over her.

“It was the injuries sustained during the collision that led to her death.

“I find that the driver of the Range Rover did not see her in the road.

“I note with a little surprise that the driver did not think to stop after he felt bumps, I accept he thought he may have hit the kerb.

“The legal definition of an accident is an unintended outcome of an unintended action.”

After the outcome the family said they felt they had been let down.

Mrs Carr said: “We feel badly let down by the Crown Prosecution Service.

“All the evidence was clear.

“He left her on two occasions including when he went back and did not speak to the police.

“The past two years have been absolute hell.

“The sentence given at court was inadequate and he did not even plead guilty.”