'It's been bad for me, but it's 1,000 times worse for him': Widow's extraordinary forgiveness towards man who killed her husband as he is spared jail Patricia Machin's husband Gerrard was knocked down by Brian Williamson Driver was found guilty of causing death by careless driving Mrs Machin said that she 'supported' Williamson and was not bitter Wrote him a letter making him promise that he would 'get on with his life' A driver who killed a pedestrian has been spared jail thanks to the extraordinary forgiveness of the victim's widow who said the ordeal had been '1,000 times worse' for him. Patricia Machin, 74, even hugged sobbing motorist Brian Williamson as he left court having been sentenced for causing the death of her husband Gerrard, 77. She had earlier written Williamson a moving letter, which was shown to the judge, telling him how she would support him in court and that she didn't feel any bitterness towards him. Brian Williamson has been spared jail thanks to the extraordinary forgiveness of Patricia Machin Judge Samuel Wiggs handed Williamson, 30, a suspended prison sentence and told him he was fortunate to have been forgiven by Mrs Machin. The tearful pensioner said: 'He has suffered enough already and will have to live with what he did. 'I didn't want to see Brian going to prison, he is someone's son after all. 'I don't feel any ill thoughts or grudges towards Brian, not for a single moment, and I know Gerrard wouldn't either. 'It was the worst day of my life and, no doubt, the worst day of Brian's life as well.' Mr Machin had been out buying his morning paper when he was knocked down by Williamson's Volkswagen Passat car in December 2011 in Bournemouth, Dorset. Patricia Machin with husband Gerrard. The tearful widow said: 'I didn't want to see Brian going to prison, he is someone's son after all' Mrs Machin wrote Williamson a moving letter telling him how she would support him in court and that she didn't feel any bitterness towards him Williamson, an aircraft engineer, claimed he did not see Mr Machin cross the road in front of him as his vision had been affected by the glare of an oncoming vehicle. Mrs Machin went looking for her husband when he failed to return home and discovered the aftermath of the collision. She even consoled Williamson at the roadside as he was 'in bits' at what had happened. Mr Machin, a retired accountant, was taken to hospital but died from multiple injuries two months later. When she learnt that Williamson was being charged with her husband's death, Mrs Machin, a retired medical assistant, wrote a letter to the Crown Prosecution Service. Patricia Machin' letter to the CPS explained that she and her late husband would never want someone to suffer It said that she and her late husband would never want to condemn Williamson and were compassionate people. Her second letter was given to Williamson in court and read by Judge Wiggs. She wrote: 'Dear Brian. Today is a very important day and I will be in court to support you. On the day of the accident, however bad it was for me, I realise it was 1,000 times worse for you. Neither Gerrard, if he was here, or I feel any sense of condemnation towards you. Will you make me a promise, that you will get on with your young life, knowing that you will always be supported by my prayers? You say you realise that I may be disappointed with your decision regarding the charge against Brian Williamson. I assume this to mean that you expect me to have wished for a harsher charge to have been brought against him... nothing could be further from the truth. I have never for a single second had any sort of angry or vengeful thoughts towards this young man. 'Even though at the time (of the accident) I was stood beside a pool of Gerrard's blood...I felt only pity for the driver. Gerrard would have nothing but compassion for Brian Williamson. This episode in our lives...will not contain any form of condemnation from our side. Scott Stemp, defending Williamson, said: 'I struggle to find words to express what is conveyed through the contents and the intentions behind it (the latter). It is truly astonishing. Williamson denied a charge of causing death by careless driving but was found guilty after a trial. Judge Wiggs gave Williamson, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland, but who now lives and works in Germany, a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was banned from driving for two years and was given a £1,000 fine. Judge Wiggs said he had read the 'extremely moving letter' of forgiveness to Williamson from Mrs Machin. He said: 'You are very fortunate to have been forgiven. There is no doubt that what happened on that day was a tragedy for everyone, including you. Nevertheless you were responsible. As he left Bournemouth Crown Court, Williamson said: 'My heart and thoughts go out to Mr Machin's family. 'I'm always asking "what if? What if I had left 10 seconds later or earlier or had gone another way"? A tearful Mrs Machin paid tribute to her late husband and revealed she keeps a 'box of treasures' to remember him by which includes his blue pyjamas and flat cap he regularly doffed to her. She said: 'I have had to get on with my life and I hope he (Williamson) can now do the same. Gerrard was an amazing man and a wonderful husband. I loved him so much. We were incredibly happy and I have to be grateful that we were married, and incredibly happy, for 13 years.