IT looks likely no one will ever stand before the criminal courts over the death of Bournemouth woman Fiona Welcome.

Fiona died after a hit-and-run collision, which took place as she crossed the road near Boscombe Chine Gardens, in the early hours of May last year.

At an inquest into her death at Bournemouth Coroner’s Court, senior Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne recorded a verdict that the 42-year-old died as the result of a road traffic collision.

Driver Daniel Clark, who has already been jailed for six months after admitting one count of dangerous driving - relating to the minutes he spent behind the wheel of his wrecked Peugeot 106 after the crash - gave evidence at the inquest. The hearing was also attended by Fiona’s cousin Nicola Scott.

Mr Clark insists his passenger, Sam Jones, had grabbed the steering wheel moments before the collision, while the pair fought for control of the car stereo following a night out in Bournemouth town centre.

Speaking at the inquest Mr Clarke said: “He (Sam) was turning the volume up, I was turning it down and he grabbed the steering wheel.”

Mr Jones, who has always denied grabbing the steering wheel, did not attend the inquest.

Nisa Waterfield, who was first on the scene, said she went to investigate after hearing a popping sound and smelling burning rubber. She discovered Fiona slumped on the ground and said she was breathing at the time.

Other people who stopped called the emergency services, and one of these people even held Ms Welcome’s hand while paramedics attended to her.

Fiona was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital shortly afterwards.

Crash investigators concluded the Peugeot, which was later found abandoned a mile away, could not have been travelling less that 39mph at the time of impact.

Recording his verdict, Mr Payne said: “The true facts are only known to the driver of the Peugeot, Daniel Clarke, and his passenger Sam Jones. They have both come up with different accounts of what occurred, although Sam Jones’ account is clouded by the affects of alcohol that he had consumed.”

The court also heard Fiona would have been quite visible, and although she had slightly excess alcohol and traces of heroin and cocaine in her system, was not in any way debilitated as she walked across Christchurch Road.

“Mr Clarke has maintained from almost the very start that Sam Jones grabbed the steering wheel and directed the car to the right and that is why Fiona was run down,” said Mr Payne.

“What I have noted is that when first interviewed by police Mr Clarke had a prepared statement, which his solicitor read out. That prepared statement makes no reference to Sam grabbing the wheel. Be that as it may, we are unable to prove otherwise, although PC Andrew Gold - the collision investigator who went to the scene - says there were no physical signs to indicate that the car deviated from its path.”

A CPS spokesman said: “Several lawyers carefully considered all the available evidence in the case and following a further review by Kate Brown, CPS Wessex Chief Crown Prosecutor, it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr Clark with either an offence of causing death by dangerous or death by careless driving.

“Ms Brown took into consideration all the available evidence, including the report from a Dorset Police forensic collision investigator and the expertise of the head of Dorset Police road death unit.

“She then concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Daniel Clark’s driving was responsible for the death of Ms Welcome.

“We await notification of the outcome of the inquest and will respond to any arising issues as appropriate.”