Family's Fury as Daughter's Killer Reoffends After Early Release
A grieving family has expressed profound anger after the man who killed their daughter, having served a mere 20 months under Sir Keir Starmer's early release initiative, has committed further motoring offences. Jess Waterman tragically passed away in hospital just three days before her 21st birthday, following a collision involving her boyfriend Nathan Towers in Epping, Essex, on February 19, 2022.
Details of the Fatal Incident and Initial Sentencing
After crashing his Mini, Towers, an unlicensed and uninsured driver, fled the scene, abandoning a gravely injured Jess. She succumbed to her injuries less than 24 hours later. In 2023, Towers was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, and fraud, receiving a prison sentence of four years and three months.
However, under Labour's early release scheme, introduced in September 2024 to address severe prison overcrowding, inmates can be released after serving only 40 percent of their sentences. Towers benefited from this policy, gaining early release in February 2025.
Subsequent Reoffending and Legal Consequences
Despite being on licence, Towers was caught speeding and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on the A127 and Denton Approach. On March 5, Chelmsford Magistrates sentenced him to six months imprisonment, disqualified him from driving for six months and 21 days, and ordered him to pay £85 in costs plus a £154 victim surcharge.
Jess's family stated that Towers has learned no lessons from taking the life of our precious daughter and behaving in such an abhorrent manner. They emphasised, Nathan Towers has never sat a driving test nor even passed his theory test. We class him as highly dangerous to have ever got behind a wheel. They added that he shows no regard for other road users and acts as if he is above the law.
Campaign for Tougher Penalties and Political Support
Since the tragedy, Jess's family has campaigned vigorously for stricter punishments against unlicensed driving, with support from their local MP, Josh Dean. They argue that unlicensed driving should be recognised as dangerous driving in its own right, comparable to drink- and drug-driving.
The family explained, Driving is widely considered one of the most dangerous daily activities, primarily due to the high-speed operation of heavy machinery, human error, and the unpredictability of other drivers. They advocate for stronger, more proportionate penalties, noting that current deterrents like points on a licence are ineffective for those without a full licence.
They vowed, Our Jess will never be just another statistic, nor will all the other individuals who have been fatally injured on the roads. They called for immediate improvements to road safety to prevent future tragedies.
Political Response and Ongoing Efforts
Josh Dean, the Labour MP for Hertford and Stortford, commented, This case demonstrates the need for tougher penalties to keep those who cause death while driving without a licence off the road. He has introduced the family to the minister for sentencing, Jake Richards, and requested a meeting with the transport minister as part of government consultations on motoring offence penalties within the Road Safety Strategy.
The case highlights ongoing debates about justice reform, early release policies, and road safety measures, underscoring the human cost of systemic failures in the legal and penal systems.
