Woman jailed after causing death of woman through drink driving

A woman has been jailed after she admitted causing the death of another woman following a collision in East Staffordshire last year.

Keavi Illsley, 24, from Burton-on-Trent, left a pub with her auntie, Katie Westwood, in the early hours of 8 October (2022). Illsley had been drinking but drove her Vauxhall Corsa. Katie was a passenger on the back seat.

During the journey, the car left the road on Bitham Lane, Stretton, crashed through a fence and hit a tree.

Katie suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision. Illsley took her out of the car after the collision.

Sadly, Katie was later found dead near to where it happened. 

Shortly after, Illsley was arrested and questioned about what happened in custody. She appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday (14 November) and pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention while unfit through drink. She was sentenced to four years and eight months behind bars and banned from driving for five years.

Detective Chief Inspector Al Lyford said: “I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to Katie’s family who are continuing to come to terms with what happened last year. I can only imagine how they are feeling.

“This case just goes to show the devastating and lifelong consequences drink driving can have on people, families and wider communities.”