Ryan Scott, a driver who caused the death of a mother in a high-speed crash, has had his prison sentence extended by two years after admitting possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. The 28-year-old, formerly of Cowpen, Blyth, Northumberland, was already serving a 10-year sentence for causing the death of Claire Laybourne, 39, in a collision on the A19 in North Tyneside in December 2025.
Fatal crash details
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Scott was driving at 114mph and had his foot to the floor accelerating when he crashed into Claire's VW T-Roc at 88mph. He was not insured to drive the Skoda Fabia. The collision occurred near the Holystone turn-off on December 5, 2025, as Claire was returning from taking her mother, Heather Appleby, to the theatre as a Christmas present. Heather suffered broken ribs, bleeding on the brain, severe whiplash, cuts and bruises. Scott fled the scene on foot, described by the court as 'cowardly'. Claire, a mother of two, died in hospital with her family at her bedside after suffering extensive fractures to the base of her skull and multiple rib fractures.
Drug dealing conviction
On Monday, Scott appeared before Judge Tim Gittins for sentencing on the drug offence, which dated back to October 2025, before the fatal crash. The court heard that Scott and Josh Dunn, 34, were spotted by police dealing cocaine from a car in Blyth. Around 29 bags of cocaine, worth approximately £1,000, and a mobile phone were seized. Scott had been on bail for the drug offence at the time of the crash. He pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. Judge Gittins said: 'You were both observed by police on motor patrol in Blyth on the 13 October last year. It was readily apparent that you were dealing while travelling around in the vehicle you were in.'
Additional sentence and co-defendant
Judge Gittins handed Scott an additional two-year prison sentence, to be served after his current 10-year term. He told Scott: 'You were funding your own addiction, and supplying it to like minded friends.' The judge noted Scott's difficult upbringing and that he was already serving a substantial sentence. Josh Dunn, of Alexandra Road, Ashington, Northumberland, also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance. He was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years and nine months. The judge acknowledged that Dunn had stopped taking drugs while in custody and remained on a drug-free wing with negative tests.
