Killer driver's sentence doubled

A driver responsible for a crash on Tyneside in which his friend was killed has had his sentence doubled.

Dane Naylor, 33, died when he was thrown from the vehicle as it left the Coast Road near Wallsend in January.

Daltery Pearson, 29, was jailed for five years in October for causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence was too lenient and increased it to 10 years.

Pearson, of Cowpen in Northumberland, had never taken a driving test and was twice the legal limit when he set off to drive home after watching a televised football match in Newcastle.

'Prolonged, shocking'

He lost control on the Coast Road at Wallsend as he overtook another vehicle.

The car collided with pedestrian barriers, mounted a grass verge and crashed into a lamppost.

Mr Naylor, of Backworth, North Tyneside, whose partner gave birth to their son four months after the crash, died from multiple injuries.

The Lord Chief Justice said it was a "prolonged, shocking piece of aggressive driving by a drunk driver" and it was a "case of the highest culpability".

He ruled that the five years was "unduly lenient and seriously so".

The ruling was welcomed by Northumbria Police.

Sergeant Ian Dey said: "We are very pleased that this sentence has been doubled by the Court of Appeal.

"It sends a clear message to people who drive while under the influence of drink and cause a fatal collision that they can expect a lengthy custodial sentence."

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