Driver jailed after death of teenage passenger

A 40-year-old man has been jailed after admitting causing the death of a 13-year-old girl in a crash.

Evelyn Haylock was in the front passenger seat of a car driven by Dwayne Moody when it crashed into a field near Whitehill, Dane End, Hertfordshire, on 31 January.

The resident of Tussers Court in Chelmsford, Essex, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison at St Albans Crown Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst uninsured, causing death whilst otherwise in accordance with a licence, two counts of perverting the course of justice and aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent.

Evelyn died from her injuries on 4 February, two other teenagers were also injured in the crash.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said Moody and his teenage passengers had been at a party in Dane End, where he had reportedly drank alcohol before taking another guest's car.

Police said the vehicle was seen being driven erratically before Moody crashed through a fence while driving round a corner.

The two injured teenagers called emergency services and tried to administer first aid.

Moody threatened one of the teenagers and tried to persuade them to give police a false account of what had happened, the force said.

Det Con Lewis Stanley said: "It speaks volumes of his character that he, a grown man, was trying to persuade the other passengers, both teenagers, to lie for him whilst they were trying to save Evelyn."

In a tribute read at court the girl's family said she had "so much life left to live".

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.