Fife man jailed for crash which killed premature baby

A driver who caused the death of a premature baby following a crash in Fife has been jailed for three years.

Stephen Stennett, 23, was behind the wheel of a car which had a head on collision with a van on the B9157 near Kirkcaldy.

Heavily pregnant Shannon Myers was a passenger in Stennett's Seat Leon in October 2018.

The 18 year-old, who was 30 weeks pregnant, had to have an emergency c-section where son Luke Myers was born.

But, the baby died around half an hour afterwards, despite efforts to save him.

Stennett was today sentenced having earlier pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Lady Stacey said: "This was a tragic and as a result of your driving a young woman had to have her baby delivered and that he died shortly afterwards.

"You, your family and friends know you have to live with that for the rest of your life.

"Nothing can reconcile Miss Myers to the loss of her baby nor will the passing of a sentence cure her anguish.

"You are a young man interested in cars and driving. You should be someone who knows to take care at all times while driving.

"Although not a previous conviction, I was disappointed to see that you have points on your licence since this happened and would not have been aware until you told the social worker about it."

Stennett, a first offender from Cowdenbeath will also be banned from the road for five years and three months.

In a statement released through her lawyers, Shannon Myers said: “Losing my baby was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced and no sentence could ever reflect this pain which will stay with me forever.

“When you are pregnant people warn you of all the things to expect or be aware of – but you never think something like this will happen.

“I would like to thank my friends and family for all their support but now I just want some peace.”

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