A 21-year-old woman who killed a man while speeding to deliver a pizza has avoided an immediate prison sentence. Rosie Hanson, 19 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving after she struck Ryan Phillips and his partner Sophie Rowe on Marine Parade in Sheerness, Kent, on January 17, 2024.
Fatal Collision at 60mph
Maidstone Crown Court heard that Hanson was delivering a pizza and reached speeds of up to 60mph in a 40mph zone. She mounted the curb and hit the couple as they walked to a restaurant to celebrate Phillips passing his IT apprenticeship. The collision occurred at around 6.40pm while the couple were “chatting and laughing” on the pavement.
Prosecutor Tom Nicholson told the court that Rowe was struck in the legs. She then saw blood coming from Phillips’ mouth. A post-mortem examination revealed that Phillips suffered a “completely unsurvivable head injury” from hitting the windshield.
Driver’s Account and Evidence
Hanson called emergency services and claimed a cat ran into the road, causing her to swerve onto the curb. However, data from her iPhone showed she was traveling between 54 and 68mph before losing control. Nicholson stated that her account of an animal was “difficult to confirm or negate.” He added, “At the speed Ms Hanson was travelling, combined with the abrupt steering response, led to the vehicle becoming unstable, and resulted in her overreacting to the situation, and instigating a clockwise rotation, crossing the opposing lane, mounting the pavement and colliding with Mr Phillips and Ms Rowe.”
Sentence and Judge’s Remarks
Judge Julian Smith sentenced Hanson to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, and 220 hours of unpaid work. She was also disqualified from driving for three years and must pass an extended test. The judge noted that Hanson was also convicted of driving without insurance, as her policy did not cover business use, for which she received a concurrent nine-month sentence.
“The reason for tragic loss is failure in Rosie Hanson’s driving,” the judge said. “Speeding to get a job done to deliver pizzas is stupid, but it is not of itself malicious… it should not happen.” He emphasized that the sentence reflected her culpability, not the value of Phillips’ life, and considered her young age of 19 and realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Victim Impact Statements
In victim impact statements, Rowe described Phillips as a “gentle giant” and said, “Losing Ryan has ruined my life. I intended to spend the rest of my life with him.” Phillips’ mother Catherine Phillips said he was her “best friend” and “one of the most selfless people you could ever meet.” She added, “All that future has been taken away in an instant. My life has fallen apart.”
Rowe also revealed that the night before his death, Phillips said he planned to save for an engagement ring. “We’d been waiting for that extra step in Ryan’s life,” she said.
Defendant’s Remorse
Hanson’s lawyer, Allan Goh, said she expressed genuine remorse. In a letter read to the court, Hanson wrote, “I am writing you this letter to express my deepest apologies to you, Ryan’s family and friends. I can’t put it into words how sorry I am this ever happened.” She added, “Ryan you sounded like a lovely man which haunts me.”
Hanson, of Mimosa Avenue, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, initially denied causing death by careless driving but later admitted causing death while uninsured.
