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Driver Over the Limit Gets Suspended Sentence Over Crash That Killed Unrestrained Baby

The judge cited significant mitigation in opting for a suspended sentence.

Overview

  • Chelmsford Crown Court handed Stevie Steel, 24, a 12‑month prison term suspended for one year, a five‑year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended test.
  • Steel admitted causing death by careless driving while over the legal alcohol limit, returning a breath reading of 43mcg per 100ml against a 35mcg limit.
  • The July 2022 collision occurred in Clacton about two minutes after setting off, when Steel hit a parked car and her Ford Focus rolled onto its roof.
  • Six‑month‑old Harry was not properly restrained, with his harness unattached and his seat unsecured, and he was thrown from a rear window and fatally injured.
  • The judge called it a tragic case, noting a brief loss of concentration and that Steel declined an offered lift before the journey.