Woman lost her baby in crash

Mark Smith, 36, jailed for horror crash, left, which killed a woman’s unborn baby. He was on licence for a life sentence for firearm and robbery charges

Back-seat passengers Darrel Spink had six stitches to a cut on his head along with a wound on his leg and bruising and Steven Breslin had cuts to his leg.

Mr Ahmed said at the time Smith, who gave a breath test of 58 microgrammes in 100 millilitres – the limit being 35 – claimed to police that Mr Breslin was the driver and Mr Breslin and Mr Spink spent more than 10 hours in police custody being questioned over the incident as a result.

Smith, who had never held a driving licence, continued with that false claim until April 17 when he sent a text to Gaynor Ledger’s mother admitting responsibility but then went on the run for nine months.

When he was eventually caught he was recalled to prison on his licence, having received a life sentence in 2004 on robbery and firearm charges.

Keith Allen, representing Smith, who refused to attend court from prison, said he had expressed remorse for the unintended consequences of his actions that day.

Smith, 36, admitted three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one of doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.

He was jailed for a total of four years and six months and disqualified from driving for seven years and three months.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC ordered his sentencing remarks to go before the Parole Board who would ultimately decide when or if he is released.

He said he had imposed sentences as long as he could since by law he could not take into account the death of the unborn child.

He said Smith, who should never have been driving, must have known he was over the limit and had ignored a warning from one of his passengers about the red light with catastrophic consequences.