Man jailed for ‘reckless’ actions behind the wheel in Scunthorpe
A man, whose ‘reckless’ actions behind the wheel killed someone who was supposed to be his friend, has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months behind bars
A man, whose ‘reckless’ actions behind the wheel killed someone who was supposed to be his friend, has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months behind bars and disqualified from driving for 18 years and one month, after his appearance at Grimsby Crown Court today (Wednesday, 27 August 2025).
Ben Bailey, 36-years-old, of no fixed abode, was remanded, after pleading guilty to death by dangerous driving at an earlier court hearing.
At around 9.40pm on Friday, 24 February 2023, Bailey was driving a grey Mercedes C350 Sports car at speed on the northbound A1077 when he failed to negotiate the approaching roundabout on the M181 near the Brumby Common Lane Bridge in Scunthorpe.
The car subsequently travelled directly across the roundabout and left the carriageway at the opposite side, colliding with a lamppost causing Bailey, who was found not to be wearing a seatbelt at the time, to be ejected from the vehicle.
A HGV driver, first on scene, put their own safety at risk to extinguish the fire that was threatening to engulf the vehicle following the collision, and the passenger, a 22-year-old man, was assisted out the vehicle by passersby who provided first aid at the scene.
When they approached Bailey to offer assistance, he told them not to ring the police and to just take him to hospital.
Emergency services arrived and despite the efforts of medical professionals, the 22-year-old man was pronounced deceased at the scene, and Bailey was transported to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.
Officers from the Serious Collision Unit launched an investigation and through numerous enquiries including CCTV, mobile phone and vehicle data, evidence from the scene, witness statements and scientific analysis, the shocking truth of that fateful day was uncovered.
Items seized from the wreckage included mobile phones, nitrous oxide gas cannisters in the drivers footwell and a quantity of balloons used to inhale nitrous oxide.
Officers from the Digital Forensics Unit analysed the data from the recovered mobile phones and discovered that Bailey’s phone was in constant use during the journey, while driving at excessive speeds significantly above the speed limit, and also whilst under the influence of cannabis and nitrous oxide.
While being interviewed in custody, he claimed that he did not remember anything about the collision and answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked about the incident.
Leading the investigation was Sergeant Rob Mazingham from the Serious Collisions Unit, who said: “The circumstances around this case are difficult to comprehend and it is one of the most shocking that I have seen in my time in this department.
“Bailey’s actions that day were unacceptable. He behaved in an extremely selfish and senseless manner, gambling with the safety of himself, his passenger, the public, not only by using his phone and not wearing a seatbelt, but taking it even further by being under the influence of cannabis and inhaling laughing gas at the same time, all, it may seem, to appease his own reckless thrills and to post on social media.
“Driving over 90mph in a 50mph limit, Bailey had no driving licence, no insurance, and was driving someone else’s car at the time of the collision.
“Videos retrieved from his phone seized from the vehicle also showed incomprehensible evidence that Bailey was taking videos and inhaling nitrous oxide behind the wheel. Footage that revealed the dashboard also showed the driver’s side seatbelt warning light was illuminated.
“Forensic analysis of the scene showed no evidence of Bailey braking or attempting to negotiate the roundabout prior to the collision, and toxicology came back as positive for cannabis and nitrous oxide in Bailey’s system at the time of the incident.
“He himself suffered serious injuries, but this did not stop him from trying to prevent members of the public from calling the police to help his friend, and then he discharged himself from hospital in a vain attempt to evade police.
“The pain and suffering the family endured cannot be underestimated, and they continue to have to navigate a life without him. Whilst the result in court today does not take this away, I hope it provides some reassurance that Bailey is off our roads and unable to inflict such tragedy onto anyone else.
“Road safety remains a priority for us, and we will seek to take action against anyone who thinks it’s okay to risk the safety not only themselves, but their passengers, other road users or pedestrians.
“Countless families are left shattered by fatal road traffic collisions that could have been prevented, and every fatal collision our teams attend is a tragedy that did not need to happen.
“Speeding, using your phone, driving under the influence, or a reckless judgement; these decisions can destroy lives forever and no journey is worth that risk.
“Our message to you is simple, all it takes is one second to take a life. Drive safe, every time.”
“We continue to encourage members of the public to report any road traffic offences and dangerous driving to us by calling our non-emergency number 101 or 999 in an emergency, when safe to do so, to help hold heedless drivers like Bailey to account.”
Speaking after sentencing, the family of the 22-year-old passenger who lost his life as a result of Bailey’s actions said: “Whilst no sentence will ever make up for our loss, we consider this a positive outcome.
“We would like to thank the HGV driver and the other members of the public that assisted at the scene immediately after the collision, and the police and crown prosecution service for their efforts in securing this conviction.”
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