A driver who caused the death of her teenage boyfriend in a car crash has had her jail term extended by 18 months. Mia Howarth, now 21, was originally jailed for three years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
The Court of Appeal increased her sentence to four and a half years on Friday, 11 September 2026. The Attorney General had referred the case, stating the initial term was "unduly lenient" and failed to adequately punish Howarth or act as a deterrent.
York Crown Court heard in March that Howarth filmed 17-year-old Alfie Lovett hanging out of her car's passenger window while driving in North Yorkshire on 12 September 2023. She then lost control of her Peugeot 107, causing it to crash into a wall near Brimham Rocks, killing Mr Lovett.
Lord Justice Popplewell, sitting with Mr Justice Linden and Mrs Justice Hill, stated the sentencing judge was incorrect to reduce the sentence due to poor prison conditions and had reduced it too much to reflect Howarth's age.