A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing the death of a mother in a high-speed crash on the A19 in North Tyneside. Ryan Scott, from Blyth, was driving at 114mph in heavy rain when he collided with Claire Laybourne's car, killing the 39-year-old and seriously injuring her mother, Heather Appleby.
The incident occurred around 10:30pm on December 5. Claire was driving her mother home after a theatre visit when she manoeuvred around a broken-down car. Scott, driving a Skoda Fabia he was not insured to drive, accelerated at full throttle into her Volkswagen T-Roc. Despite the car's emergency braking system, he was still travelling at 88mph on impact. Witnesses described the noise as 'like a bomb going off'. Scott fled the scene on foot, leaving the women trapped.
Claire was airlifted to hospital but died from extensive fractures and internal trauma. Her mother suffered broken ribs, brain bleeding, and severe whiplash. In court, family statements described Claire as a loving, vibrant woman. Her mother said: 'Losing my daughter in such a senseless way is something I can’t come to terms with.' Her daughter Faye said the loss caused 'unimaginable pain'.
Scott, who has 13 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing death while uninsured, and failing to stop. Judge Tim Gittins sentenced him to 10 years and banned him from driving for over 13 years, calling his actions 'arrogant' and 'wholly avoidable', and his decision to flee 'cowardly'.
When arrested the next day, Scott tested positive for cocaine, but prosecutors could not determine if he had taken it before or after the crash. The court heard he had only recently passed his driving test and had borrowed the car. His defence said he panicked and fled out of fear, expressing remorse. The judge concluded his reckless behaviour had destroyed a family.
