Disqualified Driver Jailed After Fiancée’s Death in Horror Crash
A disqualified driver is behind bars for five years and two months after his reckless driving killed his partner on a county road last September. Steven Michael Gaskell, 31, was jailed today (Thursday, January 11) at Northampton Crown Court for causing the death of 23-year-old Courtney Donnelly near Brampton Ash on the A427.
Fatal Crash on A427: Selfish Choices Cost Young Mother’s Life
Gaskell, of Fotheringhay Road, Corby, ignored his driving ban and got behind the wheel of a black MINI Cooper purchased earlier that day from Facebook Marketplace. At around 10.30pm on Sunday, September 17, he lost control near the village of Brampton Ash.
The MINI clipped the nearside verge, careered across the road, and rolled several times before crashing into a field. Courtney, a beloved mum-of-one, died instantly from catastrophic head injuries. Gaskell was trapped and had to be rescued by fire crews.
Drugs and Deception: Dealer’s Double Life Behind the Wheel
Police found Gaskell was disqualified from driving until August 2024 and had no insurance. A search of the wreck revealed Class B drugs and pills, along with mobile phones showing he was actively dealing drugs. He now faces charges for causing death by disqualified driving, drug possession with intent to supply, and driving without insurance.
Family’s Heartbreaking Tribute & Police Response
“Courtney was a loving single mother who always put her daughter first. We will never hear her voice or see her beautiful smile again,” her family said in a victim impact statement read at court.
Detective Constable Eleanor Hudson slammed Gaskell’s “selfish decision,” saying it robbed a young woman and her child of their future. “Reducing deaths on our roads remains a priority,” she added.
In 2022, Northamptonshire saw 36 people killed on its roads and hundreds seriously injured, highlighting the deadly consequences of dangerous driving.
