Deborah Peaty

Deborah Peaty, a 26-year-old pregnant teacher from Daventry, Northamptonshire, died in a road traffic collision on the A5 near Potterspury on 19 October 2003.

She was driving her Vauxhall Corsa when Ratnam Yogan, driving a BMW, attempted to overtake another vehicle and clipped its wing mirror. This caused a chain reaction in which another car swerved and collided with Deborah’s vehicle. She and her unborn daughter, Charlotte Louise (delivered but pronounced dead at the scene), were killed.

Yogan stopped briefly, paid for the minor mirror damage, then left the scene without helping or reporting the serious crash. Ratnam Yogan, a Sri Lankan national and asylum seeker/refugee living in east London, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He was granted bail but absconded, sparking an international manhunt. He handed himself in over a year later.

In July 2005 at Oxford Crown Court, he admitted causing Deborah’s death by dangerous driving and conspiring to pervert the course of justice (by lying to police about selling the car). He was jailed for 33 months (two years and nine months). The judge noted no aggravating factors such as speeding, drink, or drugs, but highlighted the devastating impact on the family. Deborah’s partner, Jason Leach, expressed disappointment with the sentence outside court.

Rest in peace Deborah. You will not be forgotten.