A trainee nurse has been found guilty of dangerous driving after she struck a 13-year-old girl with her car last year.

Gardene De Carvalho, 43, of Feline Court, East Barnet was found guilty on Friday 17th December, at Wood Green Crown Court.

DS Smith said, De Carvalho’s “refusal to take responsibility for using the roads safely led to the death of a young girl”.

Victoria Carson was walking along the pavement of Longmore Avenue, East Barnet on 29th June 2020. As she was walking she was struck by a Fiat 500 being driven by De Carvalho.

At the time, De Carvalho was in the second year of a nursing degree at university with a vocational placement at a London hospital. However, she was also working two other paid full-time jobs. By day she was a private carer and by night she worked at a care home.

During the investigation, authorities found that De Carvalho had worked approximately 440 hours between 1st June 2020 and the day of the collision. She routinely drove her car to her various jobs despite not having the correct insurance cover.

During the trial De Carvalho claimed that she had “blacked out” just prior to the collision and “had no memory” until shortly afterwards. The prosecution argued that she had fallen asleep due to the excessive hours she had been working.

She was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment but with a 16 month discount on account of her previous good character. She has also been disqualified from driving for four years.

DS Smith said: “De Carvalho seemed to feel entitled to drive around London, regardless of her fitness to be behind the wheel…my thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Victoria’s family.

“This tragic case should serve as a reminder to all drivers. It is your legal responsibility to ensure that you are entirely fit to drive and not putting yourself and others in danger. Failing to accept that responsibility can destroy lives and lead to your imprisonment.”