Passenger Convicted For Driving Offence

5 October 2011, 17:19 | Updated: 6 October 2011, 16:32

An Essex woman could become the first person in the country to be convicted over a fatal crash in which she was a passenger.

Cyclist Steven Rodway was killed when his bicycle collided with a car on the A113 Ongar Road in Stapleford Tawney in June last year.

The 38-year-old, from Hutton, was pronounced dead at the scene.

23-year-old engineer Alex Dexter, from Torrington Gardens in Loughton, was charged with one count of careless driving, one count of causing death by driving while uninsured and one count of causing death without having a driving licence.

In addition, bar steward Laura Mellish, from Orchard Lane in Pilgrims Hatch, was charged with two offences in relation to the crash.

The 22-year-old owned the vehicle and knowingly let Alex Dexter drive it, even though he wasn't insured and didn't have a licence.

Today (Wednesday October 5th) the pair appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court where Laura Mellish pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting.

Police believe this is the first time a person has been convicted of aiding and abetting a driver who caused the death of another while driving without insurance.

Both individuals were immediately disqualified from driving and released on court bail prior to their sentencing at the same court during week commencing Monday, October 31.