Driver who killed motorcyclist jailed after years of lies to dodge justice

A motorist who was responsible for the death of a young motorcyclist has been jailed. The result follows years of lies and deceit about his health, which kept him out of court.

Steven Naylor killed a young motorcyclist, Owen Baugh, on the M62 in 2021 and then attempted to cheat the justice system by pretending he was too unwell to be prosecuted. Nearly four years after 23-year-old Owen Baugh lost his life, Naylor finally stood before Liverpool Crown Court to face justice.

It is a sentence that comes far too late for Owen’s family, but one that exposes just how hollow and spineless Naylor’s actions were from start to finish.

The collision happened on Sunday, 25 April 2021, on the M62 between junctions 6 and 7 near Huyton. Naylor, now 41 and from St Helens, was driving a black Audi A4 when he struck Owen’s red Suzuki motorcycle.

Owen, a 23-year-old from Manchester, was taken to hospital following the crash but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. What followed the crash was an extraordinary, prolonged and calculated attempt by Naylor, aided by his wife Lisa, to avoid accountability altogether.

After the collision, Naylor claimed he was medically unfit to face prosecution, conning the police and courts by presenting as somebody who had suffered a life-changing brain injury. Those claims dragged the case out for years, with Naylor at one stage being found not guilty of failing to provide a blood sample after asserting he was unable to consent.

Not content with merely accepting Naylor’s claims, Merseyside Police’s Serious Collision Investigations Unit (SCIU) carried out what it describes as one of the largest inquiries it has ever undertaken. Hundreds of hours of CCTV and mobile phone footage were gathered, while medical records were also scrutinised.

Once complete, the picture that emerged of the life Steven Naylor portrayed bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one the courts had been told about.

Instead of being incapable of functioning, Naylor can be seen playing rugby, kayaking, dancing at festivals, going on holiday, and living a full, active life. Confronted with the evidence, Naylor eventually admitted to perverting the course of justice. The court also heard that Naylor’s wife, Lisa Naylor, played an active role in maintaining the lie. 

The video below shows some of the surveillance gathered by the police.

Speaking about the sentencing, Detective Constable Clare Barker, the Investigating Officer from SCIU, said: 

"Owen's death was needless and completely avoidable, and it has had a devastating impact his family and the many people who knew and loved him.”

“This has been an incredibly challenging case, not just because of its complexity, but because of the deliberate and sustained dishonesty shown by the suspects over such a long period of time.”

“They repeatedly claimed that Steven Naylor was unable to live a functioning life and was mentally incapable of being able to face the consequences of his actions whilst driving on that fateful April 2021 night.”

“The actions of Steven and Lisa Naylor have been nothing short of callous and have not allowed Owen's already grieving family and friends to begin to make steps forward. My thoughts remain firmly with the Baugh family, who have shown immense dignity and strength throughout this ordeal.”

Steven Naylor, 41, of Spinney Close, St Helens, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, January 8, after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for 12 years. His wife, Lisa Naylor, was also charged with perverting the course of justice for taking an active role in the deceit. She was sentenced to four and a half years.

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