In a jaw-dropping turn of events, a man who fatally struck a cyclist before asserting his inability to stand trial due to injuries was captured engaging in a game of rugby.
Stephen Naylor, aged 41, was driving his Audi at speeds exceeding 120mph when he collided with motorcyclist Owen Baugh on the M62 in April 2021. The impact of the crash threw Baugh onto the road, where he was subsequently hit by another vehicle, leading to his tragic death near Liverpool. Naylor, who sustained severe injuries after his car veered off the road and impaled him on a wooden fence, spent weeks recuperating in the hospital.
Upon his release, Naylor’s wife, Lisa, claimed that the accident had enduring repercussions on his health despite his discharge. The couple fabricated stories about the severity of his injuries in an attempt to avoid legal repercussions for the fatal accident.
The deception began when Naylor failed to provide a blood sample to authorities after leaving the hospital in June 2021. A psychiatrist later attested to Naylor’s distress during a remote consultation, leading to his acquittal in July 2023. However, inconsistencies arose when Naylor was spotted participating in rugby and attending social events, contradicting claims of his impaired health.
Further scrutiny revealed Naylor shopping unaided and engaging in day-to-day activities, undermining the narrative of his incapacitation. Despite his wife’s assertions of his cognitive decline and physical limitations, video evidence painted a different picture.
Ultimately, Naylor confessed to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. He received a 12-year prison sentence, while his wife, Lisa, was convicted of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars.
In response to the tragedy, Owen Baugh’s grieving family expressed their profound loss and thanked emergency services and law enforcement for their efforts in pursuing justice against Naylor.
