A driver who killed a music student while speeding and under the influence of nitrous oxide has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Tiffany Treanor-Johnson, 27, was driving at 53 mph in a 20 mph zone when she struck cyclist Harry Webb in Hackney, east London, in September 2023. She then mounted the pavement and crashed into another vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Mr. Webb, a 27-year-old student at the London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM), sustained critical injuries and died days later in hospital. He was posthumously awarded his master's degree. The court heard that Treanor-Johnson had been inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, prior to the collision.
Snaresbrook Crown Court sentenced Treanor-Johnson to 10 years and nine months imprisonment and disqualified her from driving for 10 years. She had initially denied causing death by dangerous driving but changed her plea to guilty in April.
Mr. Webb, described as an intelligent and caring individual, was on his way to an evening swim when the crash occurred. His mother, Pat Webb, told the court that her life ended on the day of his death and that the image of watching her son die is unforgettable. Mr. Webb's father, Mike Webb, expressed his ongoing grief and called for road crime to be taken more seriously in the UK, advocating for lifetime driving bans for those who cause serious injury or death through reckless driving.
Witnesses reported that Treanor-Johnson's Audi collided with a red Citroen after hitting Mr. Webb. The driver of the Citroen, Brenton Henry, intervened and took Treanor-Johnson's car keys to prevent her from leaving. Police arrived at the scene, found Mr. Webb, and arrested Treanor-Johnson. Fragments of balloons used for inhaling nitrous oxide were found in her vehicle.
In her defense, Treanor-Johnson's lawyer stated she was in a state of shock and not deliberately evading responsibility. However, the judge emphasized Treanor-Johnson's sole blame for the collision and the likelihood of impairment due to drug use.
Following the sentencing, a ghost bike memorial was installed at the junction where Mr. Webb was fatally struck, accompanied by his photograph. His family and friends attended the hearing, with many expressing the profound impact of his loss. Mr. Webb also held a mathematics and philosophy degree from Bristol University and a master’s in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam.