MAGISTRATES have chosen to be lenient on Malmesbury truck driver Mark Jenner, who failed to produce his driving documents within seven days of a minor collision because he was coping with the death of his wife.

Mr Jenner, 39, of Filands, pleaded guilty at Chippenham Magistrates' Court on Monday to failing to produce his driving licence, insurance and MoT documents within seven days of an accident between Crudwell and Malmesbury on November 19 last year.

In mitigation, the father-of-two, who owns Mark Jenner and Sons Transport, said he produced them a month later because he was getting over the death of his wife, who had died from leukaemia that April.

He said: "I was involved in a road accident that was not my fault and I did produce the documents, except it was a month later. I am sorry to have caused any trouble."

He was ordered to pay £35 court costs, but magistrates waived any fine.

Afterwards, Mr Jenner said his wife would have been proud of the way he has brought up their sons, Luke, 13, and Sam, ten.

"She would be proud, but we have all been there for each other and as a family we have supported each other," said Mr Jenner, whose sons attend Malmesbury School and St Mary's Primary School in Malmesbury.

Mrs Jenner was a dinner lady at Malmesbury School's Filands site and was diagnosed with leukaemia at Bath's Royal United Hospital on February 15 2001, after collapsing while at work.

"Until then she had been getting severe migraines but had continued going to work. She wanted to block out the pain," said Mr Jenner.

He was on his way back from Germany with a trailer bound for Dover when his mother, Sheila Jenner, called to tell him his wife had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Carol Jenner, who taught swimming to youngsters at Malmesbury Marlins Swimming Club, underwent four weeks of chemotherapy before returning home. In the meantime, her sister Jennifer, 33, of Swindon, agreed to donate her own bone marrow for a transplant.

The transplant was delayed until after another round of chemotherapy, which was completed by April 10 and she returned home.

But while preparing for the operation Mrs Jenner took ill and was re-admitted to Bath RUH on April 16. She died six days later.

"I saw her the day before and knew something was not quite right," said Mr Jenner. "The worst thing was seeing Sam holding his mum's hand and saying, 'I don't know what to do as I haven't seen a dead person before'."

His wife's funeral took place at Malmesbury Abbey a week later.

Mr Jenner said he has since been well supported by his mother and his wife's parents.

His sons Sam and Luke swim for Malmesbury Marlins. In February, at the swimming club's annual awards dinner, two trophies were dedicated to their mother's memory. "That was very touching because I know how much she thought of the club," said Mr Jenner.

dvaller@newswilts.co.uk