A woman from east London has pleaded guilty to hitting and killing a cyclist while high on “hippy crack” and driving at more than 50mph in a 20mph zone.
Tiffany Treanor-Johnson, now 27, crashed into Harry Webb as he was cycling on Kenworthy Road, Hackney in September 2023.
Treanor-Johnson then drove off, leaving Mr Webb fatally injured on the side of the road, and he died from his injuries two days later.
She originally pleaded not guilty to the charge, but changed her plea to guilty before the trial was set to start on April 29, weeping in the dock at Snaresbrook Crown Court as she admitted to causing death by dangerous driving.
It was found that Treanor-Johnson had taken the Class C drug nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or hippy crack, before that crash, and was speeding at 53mph in a 20mph zone.
Nitrous oxide was not illegal to possess in the UK at the time, but was reclassified as a Class C drug in November 2023.
At a hearing, it was heard that she mounted the pavement and crashed into Mr Webb as he was on his way to an evening swim, causing a traumatic brain injury.
He was on a hands-free phone call with his parents after they had helped him move into his new home in Hackney when the incident happened, and his parents heard the crash unfold.
It was reported that a motorist who saw the crash tried to stop Treanor-Johnson from driving away but was unsuccessful, while a stranger picked up Mr Webb’s phone and told his parents their son had been hit by a car.
Mr Webb's father Mike, 66, said: “The passerby we spoke to told us that Harry had his helmet on. He was trying to reassure me, I think, but we could hear the sirens.
“We then got told an ambulance had arrived and was taking Harry to hospital. We both packed some things into a bag thinking he'd got a broken leg or something. That was until a surgeon from the hospital rang us. They said we needed to pull over so we did.
“Then we were told Harry had suffered major brain trauma and he likely would not survive. He died two days later surrounded by his family and about 20 of his friends. He had only rang up to say: ‘Thanks mum, thanks dad’ for helping him with the move.”
Mike said Treanor-Johnson showed “no remorse” for killing his son, adding: “She has been totally in denial of what she's done.”
Mr Webb’s mother Pat, also 66, said: “After all of this time we have not heard anything from her or her family - not even an: 'I'm sorry' or a: 'Sorry for your loss'. Nothing.
“It has all been about her, about how hard her childhood was and other things, when we are the victims - our son is dead. He has been robbed of his future.”
Mr Webb was studying music production at the London College of Contemporary Music at the time of the crash.
Fiona Robertson, prosecuting, told the court that Treanor-Johnson’s jail sentence should be at least 12 years, though this will be reduced due to her guilty plea.
Judge Rosa Dean remanded Treanor-Johnson in custody, with sentencing adjourned until July.
She said: “It does look like you have tried to bury your head in the sand, leaving it up to the day of the trial to accept you have no defence and accepting your responsibility.
“You are looking at a substantial period of imprisonment. It seems to me there is a substantial risk that, were I to grant you bail, you would bury your head in the sand again.”
Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite, of the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Harry’s life was cruelly stolen from him by Tiffany Treanor-Johnson. Her decision to initially contest the case put his family and loved ones through months of unnecessary pain as they prepared for the trial."
“This has been a lengthy and complex investigation and I am incredibly grateful to my officers and for the patience and understanding of Harry’s parents. My thoughts remain with Harry’s family and I hope that this guilty plea provides some comfort to them.”
