Van driver who was watching YouTube music videos when he crashed into stationary car to kill pensioner on way home from celebrating her 83rd birthday is jailed for 11 years
By JADA BAS, TRAINEE REPORTER[1]
Published: 12:29, 18 September 2025 | Updated: 13:03, 18 September 2025
A van driver who was watching YouTube[2] music videos when he crashed and killed an 83-year-old woman has been jailed for 11 years.
Steve Crowe, 48, was travelling on the A12 near Howe Green, Chelmsford, Essex, in January 2023 when he smashed into the back of the stationary car carrying a family.
Jennifer Anne Tillett, known as Anne, her son Russell, and his wife Wendy were returning home from the pensioner's 83rd birthday celebration in White Notley.
The force of the impact sent their car careering off the road before it landed on its roof, leaving Anne and Wendy trapped inside before they were freed by the emergency services.
But it was too late for Anne who suffered serious injuries and died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge[3] three weeks later.
Crowe initially denied two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but later changed his pleas and was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday.
Addressing Crowe during his sentencing, Judge Mary Loram KC said: 'Everything about this case was tragic - it is tragic that someone like you finds yourself where you are.
'However, the true tragedy comes in the loss of Anne Tillett - she was a much-loved sister, mother, and clearly everything a grandmother should be.'
Steve Crowe, 48, who was watching YouTube music videos when he crashed and killed an 83-year-old woman, has been jailed for 11 years
The judge at Chelmsford Crown Court said Crowe, of Boxted, 'lied and carried on lying' in the aftermath of the incident.
He claimed he only used his phone before he started his journey and that there was diesel on the road where the crash took place.
Matthew Bagnell, prosecuting, said a forensic investigation of Crowe's mobile phone found he had sent voice notes on WhatsApp and searched for music videos on YouTube in the minutes before the crash.
He said: 'There is continuous use of the phone throughout the journey.
'The defendant was engaging in making and receiving calls as well as sending and receiving messages in the entirety of his journey.'
He said Crowe was approaching a queue of traffic at 8.10pm on January 3 and failed to brake when he crashed into the back of the Vauxhall Zafira carrying the three victims on the London-bound carriageway.
A pathologist confirmed that Anne Tillett's death was a direct result of injuries sustained in the crash.
In a police interview, Crowe said: 'At no time was I distracted by anything, including my telephone, prior to the accident.'
Jennifer Anne Tillett, 83, known as Anne, suffered serious injuries and later died in hospital as a result of the crash
When he was asked about evidence which showed him switching between the WhatsApp and YouTube apps on his phone, he answered: 'No comment.'
Victoria Meads, mitigating, said Crowe had no previous convictions but accepted the offence was 'born out of sheer recklessness'.
She added: 'He comes to court today to accept readily the consequences for him and his family.'
Judge Mary Loram KC also said Crowe 'lied at the roadside and carried on lying', and only accepted his guilt when the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Crowe was jailed for 11 years for causing death by dangerous driving and will serve two three-year sentences concurrently for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He will serve a four-year driving ban upon his release from prison.