A man who caused a fatal crash and abandoned his critically injured girlfriend at the scene has been apprehended driving once again after being released from prison.
Nathan Towers, aged 33, was responsible for the death of Jess Waterman, 20, due to reckless driving on Houblons Hill in Epping in February 2022. Towers, operating without a license and insurance, was convicted of perverting the course of justice and fraud.
Tragically, Jess, a resident of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, passed away in the hospital within 24 hours of the incident, just days before her 21st birthday. Her family fondly remembers her as a “beautiful, vibrant, and compassionate young woman.”
Following his sentencing to four years and three months in prison in June 2023, Towers was granted release on license. However, on March 4, he was caught driving on the A127 in Southend while still disqualified. As a result, Towers received a six-month prison term at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on March 5. He was also banned from driving for six months and 21 days, along with being ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Expressing their dismay, Jess’ family criticized Towers for resuming driving activities after serving only 20 months in prison. They emphasized that he displayed no remorse for causing their daughter’s death and committing subsequent offenses, labeling him as a severe threat on the road.
Detective Inspector Mark Fraser of Essex Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit condemned Towers’ actions, highlighting his callous behavior following the fatal crash.
The Waterman family, grieving the loss of their beloved daughter, emphasized the need for stricter penalties against unlicensed driving, advocating for it to be equated with the severity of drink- and drug-driving offenses.
Their local MP, Josh Dean, has lent his support to their cause, stressing the importance of stringent measures to keep individuals like Towers, who pose a risk to public safety, off the roads.