A driver who killed a motorcyclist and then spent years pretending to be medically unfit to face justice has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
A fatal collision and a 'web of lies'
Steven Naylor, 41, was driving an Audi A4 when he collided with a Suzuki motorbike ridden by Owen Baugh on the M62 in Huyton on April 25, 2021. The 23-year-old motorcyclist from Manchester was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Instead of facing the consequences, Naylor, of Spinney Close in St Helens, embarked on a prolonged deception. He falsely claimed he was medically and mentally unfit to be prosecuted, a lie that delayed court proceedings for nearly five years.
Painstaking police investigation uncovers the truth
Merseyside Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit launched one of its largest ever probes to dismantle Naylor's claims. Officers gathered hundreds of hours of CCTV and mobile phone footage, which painted a starkly different picture of his life.
The evidence showed Naylor playing rugby, kayaking, dancing at a festival, and going on holiday – activities wholly inconsistent with his claims of incapacity. A raft of medical and documentary evidence was also uncovered, leaving him with no choice but to admit perverting the course of justice.
His wife, Lisa Naylor, 40, also of Spinney Close, was found to have played an active role in the deceit. She was charged with the same offence.
Sentencing and a family's heartbreak
At Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Steven Naylor was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. Lisa Naylor was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
In a heartfelt statement, Owen Baugh's family described how their lives had come to a "total, devastating stop". They thanked the police for their determined efforts, stating Naylor was an "evil individual" who had never shown an ounce of remorse.
Detective Constable Clare Barker, the investigating officer, said: "Owen's death was needless and completely avoidable. 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."
