A drink driver who killed a young motorcyclist in a horrific high-speed collision has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, after he and his wife were caught weaving an elaborate web of lies about his injuries to avoid prosecution.
The Fatal Crash and Deceptive Aftermath
Steven Naylor, 41, was driving his Audi at speeds of up to 120mph on the M62 near Liverpool in the early hours of 25 April 2021. After consuming alcohol at a birthday party for his wife Lisa at their St Helens home, he left the house and took to the motorway. CCTV captured him tailgating and flashing his headlights at 23-year-old Owen Baugh's motorcycle before ploughing into the back of it.
The impact sent Mr Baugh, from Manchester, into the carriageway, where he was tragically struck and killed by another vehicle. Naylor's car careered off the road, smashing through a wooden fence. A section of the fencing pierced the windscreen and impaled him in the shoulder, leaving him with serious injuries.
Emergency services reported a strong smell of alcohol when they reached Naylor. He was hospitalised for several weeks. However, upon his discharge in June 2021, he and his wife began a campaign of deception, vastly exaggerating the extent of his injuries and claiming he could barely walk.
The Web Unravels: Rugby, Raves and Kayaking
Their claims were swiftly dismantled by a determined police investigation. Detectives uncovered a trove of evidence showing Naylor living a fully active life, directly contradicting his assertions of incapacity.
Photos and videos revealed Naylor playing rugby, kayaking, going on boating trips, and shopping independently at Aldi and Morrisons. He was filmed dancing energetically at a rave and attended an 80s disco night with his wife. Furthermore, he gave a speech at his brother's wedding and was pictured helping someone climb a tree.
The couple had also contested the analysis of a blood sample taken from Naylor while he was unconscious after the crash, claiming he lacked the capacity to consent. This led to him being cleared of failing to provide a specimen by magistrates in July 2023, based on a psychiatrist's report.
Justice Served at Liverpool Crown Court
Confronted with the overwhelming evidence of their lies, both were arrested and charged in October 2024. At Liverpool Crown Court, Steven Naylor admitted to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
Lisa Naylor was convicted of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to four and a half years in prison for her role in the elaborate deception.
In a heartfelt statement, Owen Baugh's family described how their lives had come to a "total, devastating stop." They thanked Merseyside Police, particularly Sgt Andy Roper, for their "determined effort" to bring to justice what they called an "evil individual who has never shown an ounce of remorse since day one."
