Stockton man's passenger died after BMW crashed with tree near Newton Aycliffe

Stephen Matthew Smith, who was said to have been tailgating a car in front and driving at 91-miles per hour on a 60-limit road shortly before the collision, was today (Wednesday September 14) given a four-year prison sentence.

Durham Crown Court heard that the accident took place on Friday October 9, 2020, shortly after Smith left his place of work on an industrial estate in Newton Aycliffe, at about 6pm.

Stephen Matthew Smith given four-year prison sentence for causing death of passenger Kayley Robinson by dangerous driving Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY (Image: Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

The court was told his passenger was 37-year-old Kayley Robinson, a work colleague and former partner.

Read more: Passenger died after BMW hit a tree at high speed near Newton Aycliffe

Another colleague described Smith pulling away from the industrial estate at speed and told police he shook his head as the defendant raced up the road.

Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said Smith’s route took him along Middridge Road, in Newton Aycliffe, two to three miles from the point of departure.

She said it is a 60-limit single carriageway unlit road, which undulates and is uneven in parts.

The speed of Smith’s BMW was analysed through nearby cctv footage and estimated to have been 91-mph shortly before he lost control.

Although the defendant has no recollection of the incident, his car left the road, impacting with trees and came to rest heavily smoking, landing on its roof.

Passers-by went to try to assist, but both Smith and Ms Robinson were trapped in the badly damaged vehicle.

They were cut free by firefighters and Ms Robinson had no pulse, so paramedics began attempts at resuscitation at the scene.

She was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where her death was confirmed five days later from brain injury, in turn caused by cardiac arrest following blunt head injury.

Deceased Kayley Robinson, who died in hospital from her injuries Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY

The defendant, who was conscious as he was helped from the scene, was unable to be interviewed, due to his own injuries, until February 24, 2021.

In a prepared statement he said he could not recall his speed prior to collision but he accepted losing control of his vehicle and said he was “devastated” by Ms Robinson’s death.

Miss Smithies said accident investigators concluded Smith’s “manifestly unsafe” speed combined with the undulations in the road shortly before the collision scene contributed to the loss of control.

In a victim statement, read to the court, Ms Robinson’s mother Judith spoke of the “intense emotional pain and sorrow” both she and her family feel at the loss of her daughter at such a young age.

She described her as a young woman who helped "everyone and anyone" she could.

The 39-year-old defendant, of Scarth Walk, Stockton, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at a plea hearing in July.

Miss Smithies told his sentencing hearing he has 17 previous convictions for 20 offences, for dishonesty, violence and public order matters, with the most serious being arson in 2007, but there are no driving offences on his record.

Read more: Kayley Robinson: Tributes paid to mother who died in Aycliffe crash

In mitigation Tony Davis said the defendant, who appeared for the hearing in a wheelchair by video link from Teesside Magistrates’ Court, suffered serious injuries himself in the incident, itself a mitigating factor according to sentencing guidelines.

But, in passing sentence, Judge James Adkin said the offence specific guidelines are, “not greatly sympathetic to those defendants who do suffer injuries.”

He told Smith: “Put simply, your injuries are your fault and prisons are equipped to deal with offenders who have mobility issues.

“So, your injuries provide only modest mitigation in the context of this case.”

Judge Adkin said the course of bad driving did not appear to be limited to the immediate moments before the crash.

“It is a reasonable inference that your aggressive driving persisted for the two to three miles until the site of the crash.”

He said after trial the sentence would have been six years but reduced it to four years to reflect his guilty plea.

Judge Adkin also imposed a five-year driving ban, but only starting upon Smith’s release from prison.

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