This is the moment an ‘arrogant’ driver who killed a young woman was seen smirking outside court just moments before being jailed.
Footage shows Dean Tolan, 36, arriving at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to causing the death of 29-year-old Ellie Smart by dangerous driving.
In the video, Tolan casually chats on his phone with a vape hanging out of his mouth before joking with others as he carries a large overnight bag.
But Tolan was full of self-pity later in the day when he sobbed in the dock as he was jailed for nine years and handed a ten-year driving ban to begin upon his release over the horror crash in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on January 25, 2024.
In addition to speeding at 58mph when he hit Ms Smart as she attempted to cross the road, Tolan was not wearing his glasses in spite of licence conditions. He was also using his phone moments beforehand.
Judge Jeremy Richardson said Tolan showed an ‘errant disregard and arrogance’ for the rules.
Tolan even sought to blame Ms Smart in the wake of her death, claiming she rushed out in front of him and he did not have a chance to brake.
In a gut-wrenching statement to the court, Ms Smart’s parents said they had been left heartbroken after they ‘watched her slip away’ a few hours after the crash.
Ms Smart, a first-class communications graduate who worked in South Yorkshire Police’s press office, had visited them on the morning of the crash.
Footage shows Dean Tolan, 36, arriving at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to causing the death of 29-year-old Ellie Smart by dangerous driving
Ellie Smart, 29, was killed in the horror crash in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on January 25, 2024
Tolan later sobbed in the dock as he was jailed for nine years over the horror crash in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on January 25, 2024. He was also banned from driving for ten years
Tolan pictured outside Sheffield Crown Court with a large vape hanging out of his mouth
Her parents, who lived a short distance away from her, said they felt they had no choice but to leave the city.
They told the court they were, ‘devastated that she will never get married or have a family of her own and will not be there to watch her niece grow up.’
Prosecutor Laura Marshall said Tolan was not wearing glasses at the time of the collision, despite having a restriction on his driving licence which means it is only valid when he is wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses.
Tolan failed a number of roadside eye sight tests, and falsely claimed that he had only noticed some emerging issues with his eyesight in the days prior to the crash.
The court also heard how Tolan’s mobile phone was connected to his vehicle’s Bluetooth, but was recorded as having used it within seconds of the crash occurring.
Judge Richardson said: ‘You displayed spectacular arrogance; you also displayed arrogance and a lack of basic humanity when you were interviewed by police, seeking to blame the deceased, the DVLA and your optician.’
‘You caused the death of a delightful young woman aged 29 years who had her whole life ahead of her. You eradicated that.’
