Inquest hears how joyride ended in tragedy (From St Helens Star)

Inquest hears how joyride ended in tragedy

2:00pm Wednesday 4th November 2009

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A CORONER has recorded a verdict of accidental death in the case of a teenage joyrider who crashed a stolen car in a field.

Jamie Livsey, of Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows had been driving one of two stolen Vauxhall Corsas taken by him, Callum Whitehead and Steven Marshall on April 1.

Warrington Coroner’s Court heard how the three, all aged 19, had met at Whitehead’s St Helens home that evening.

They had been drinking before stealing the vehicles.

Whitehead, who was a banned driver, and Livsey – a St Helens College student - were at the wheel of the Corsas late at night.

Speaking at the inquest, Marshall said: “We pulled over in Vulcan village because me and Callum thought Jamie’s driving wasn’t right, we asked him to stop driving and get in the other car. He did not want to leave the car.”

Marshall says that he asked Livsey to put a seat belt on, which he did, and they set off following the country lanes towards Burtonwood, with Whitehead’s car in front.

The inquest was told as they pulled up to a junction from Alder Lane, Livsey hit the back of their car, shunting them slightly.

The pair say Livsey’s car then overtook them.

Whitehead, of Forest Road, Sutton Manor told the court: “Jamie started to speed up so I was flashing my lights at him. I was trying to get him to pull over.”

An eyewitness reported seeing the two cars drive past him in Burtonwood at high speed, and thought he saw the blue Corsa being driven by Livsey following behind Whitehead’s red one.

As they approached Clay Lane, Livsey lost control of the vehicle and crashed through the hedge.

Livsey, who was seriously injured, was moved out of the vehicle by his friends. Whitehead then torched the crashed car to cover their tracks for stealing it.

Kai Farmer, an off-duty paramedic, heard the crash happen and went to help.

He said: “I was aware of a young man sitting against a telephone exchange box. I asked him what had happened, I seem to recall he said he did not know.”

The pair left Livsey with Mr Farmer and drove off, soon after the victim’s condition deteriorated and died at 2am on April 2 at Warrington Hospital.

Toxicology reports showed that Livsey was over the drink-drive limit.

PC Steve Binns told the inquest that tracks left on the road indicated the tragic teenager did not emergency brake as the car lost control.

The inquest heard Livsey was travelling at between 42mph and 55mph on the 30 mph limit road and the maximum speed the corner could be taken was at 38mph.

Deputy Coroner for Cheshire, Janet Napier, recorded the verdict of accidental death.

Last week the Star reported how, following a criminal trial, a judge had condemned the cowardly actions of car thieves Whitehead and Marshall following the crash which led to their friend’s death.

Whitehead was jailed for a year for perverting the course of justice.

He will also serve concurrent sentences for two counts of theft and driving while disqualified.

He was banned from driving for 12 months for motoring offences that included driving with no insurance.

The court heard he has a string of previous convictions and is serving a 24-week term for breaching a suspended sentence.

Meanwhile, Marshall, of Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows, was sentenced on two counts of theft.

He was handed a 12-month supervision order and must do 60 hours unpaid work.

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