Tiffany Treanor-Johnson, 27, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook crown court on Wednesday (April 29) to causing the death by dangerous driving of Harry Webb, a 27-year-old music student (pictured above).
Judge Rosa Dean ordered that Treanor-Johnson, who was crying in the dock, be taken into custody immediately due to “substantial concerns” that she would fail to attend the subsequent sentencing hearing.
Judge Dean told Treanor-Johnson, from Hackney, who was 24 at the time of the collision: “It does look like you have tried to bury your head in the sand, leaving it up to the day of the trial to accept you have no defence and accepting your responsibility.
“You are looking at a substantial period of imprisonment. It seems to me there is a substantial risk that, were I to grant you bail, you would bury your head in the sand again. I do have substantial concerns you would fail to attend [the sentencing].”
Mr Webb’s death was one of a spate of cyclist fatalities in east London within weeks. The case subsequently became notorious as one of many to suffer long delays due to the legal system.
Speaking to me outside the courtroom, Mr Webb’s parents, Pat and Mike Webb, of Crickhowell, Wales, said: “It’s been a long wait for justice.
“Road deaths must be taken seriously. Drivers must look out for cyclists and pedestrians. People do have a responsibility driving vehicles.
“Harry was a very good, kind person doing nothing wrong. We have a life sentence.”
The crash happened on Kenworthy Road, Hackney – a road notorious for collisions and near misses – at about 7.40pm on September 10, 2023.
Mr Webb, a 27-year-old music student at the London College of Contemporary Music, had been on his way to London Fields Lido for an evening swim.
He died in hospital two days later from catastrophic injuries.
He had a maths and philosophy degree from Bristol University and a masters in philosophy from Amsterdam university.
Fiona Robertson, prosecuting, told the court that the starting point for Treanor-Johnson’s jail sentence should be 12 years, though this will be reduced due to her guilty plea.
She said Treanor-Johnson, who was driving an Audi A1 car, was travelling “significantly in excess of the speed limit”, at 53mph in a 20mph area, just before the collision.
The car mounted the pavement and careered across the road.
Treanor-Johnson was found to have taken nitrous oxide, a class C drug, which would have resulted in “some impairment” to her driving, Ms Robertson said.
Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, and which has been linked to anti-social behaviour, was made illegal in 2023.
Treanor-Johnson, who arrived in court with two large holdalls, had originally pleaded not guilty to the offence a year ago.
Mr Webb’s family only discovered she planned to plead guilty on Wednesday morning as they arrived for what was expected to be an eight-day trial.
Stephanie Panchkowry, defending, said Treanor-Johnson was a “woman of previous good character” who had been suicidal in the past. “With all this going on it has been incredibly difficult for her,” Ms Panchkowry said.
In a statement released by the Metropolitan police on Friday, May 1, Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite, of the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Harry’s life was cruelly stolen from him by Tiffany Treanor-Johnson. Her decision to initially contest the case put his family and loved ones through months of unnecessary pain as they prepared for the trial.
“This has been a lengthy and complex investigation and I am incredibly grateful to my officers and for the patience and understanding of Harry’s parents. My thoughts remain with Harry’s family and I hope that this guilty plea provides some comfort to them.”
