Reckless driver who killed a man in a Coventry hit-and-run incident jailed - The Coventry Observer

Reckless driver who killed a man in a Coventry hit-and-run incident jailed

Coventry Editorial 24th Apr, 2017 Updated: 24th Apr, 2017   0

THE family of a man killed in a Coventry hit-and-run have said they finally have justice after the driver was jailed for four years last week.

Christopher Masterson was mown down by a blue Renault Clio that was travelling the wrong way along Dame Agnes Grove on January 30 2016.

The driver, Daniel Stewart, left the 56-year-old injured in the road.

Sadly, Mr Masterson’s injuries were so severe he died in hospital later that day.




Officers from the regional collision investigation unit searched CCTV and were able to track down the owner of the car to Stewart’s girlfriend Sophie John.

Intent on helping her boyfriend cover his crime, she disposed of the car by having it scrapped two days later.


Sophie John, of Mills Meadow, Coventry, denied having any knowledge of the crash but after her phone was examined it proved that she had arranged the sale.

Stewart, aged 31 from Beacon Road, Holbrooks pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice and was jailed for four years.

He was also disqualified from driving and will be required to sit an extended retest before being able to get behind the wheel again.

John denied her involvement and only changed her plea at Leamington Justice Centre on April 21 where she was jailed for 19 months for perverting the course of justice.

The family of Christopher Masterson have since released a statement.

They said: “After 15 long months there is finally justice for our youngest brother Chris.

“Daniel Stewart’s plea of guilty from the outset demonstrated that he has taken full responsibility for his actions.

“Conversely Sophie John has consistently attempted to dodge accountability for her role in the aftermath of Chris’s death until the eleventh hour.

“In doing so, she has prolonged our family’s agony, especially for our elderly mother who lost her son and, as a direct result, had to move from her home of sixty years.

“Sophie John has shown us not one iota of compassion throughout this process, until today in court.

“It is hoped that she will one day regret her actions and the heartache she has caused us.

“There are no words to express our gratitude to the police and our family liaison officers for the tremendous support they have given us throughout this difficult time.”

Sergeant Alan Wood, from the force’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We hope that today’s sentence will offer some comfort to the family as they continue to grieve for their loved one and come to terms with their loss.

“Even though John was not in the car at the time of the collision she colluded with Stewart to cover his crime.

“They should have done the right thing and come forward.

“They have now lost their liberty, but our thoughts remain firmly with Mr Masterson’s family who have lost a beloved son and brother.”

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