Fury as Ferrari driver who ruined baby's life 'got off lightly'
Daniel Halliwell was handed 32 months behind bars and disqualified from driving for five years, with an extension of 16 months after he crashed his Ferrari into the car of a mum and her newborn son, who was left permanently brain damaged. The 35-year-old was driving at speeds of up to 136mph when he lost control of his Ferrari 812 GTS and crashed into the back of a woman's Ford Fiesta as she entered the Daresbury Expressway A558 on July 21, 2023.
The woman's three-week-old baby boy suffered a severe brain injury resulting in permanent physical and neurological problems, meaning he will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.
Today, after Halliwell's crimes were heard at Chester Crown Court, the ECHO was finally able to reveal the face of the man, whose 'showing off' in a Ferrari led to a tiny baby being permanently brain damaged. Halliwell, of Harvey Avenue, Earlestown, St Helens, at first claimed he had been travelling "around 60mph" however, HGV dashcam footage of the crash showed the horrific moment Halliwell's luxury car collided with the Ford, sending debris scattering all over the road.
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Sentencing him, Judge Steven Everett said: "On July 21 2023 on what appeared to be a sunny, pleasant day, you were driving your Ferrari ridiculously fast on a dual carriageway that was busy enough with other people...You decided to show off to your passenger. It’s not clear what your actual speed was, but I’m quite sure it was well in excess of 100mph."
He added: "Tragically for the woman and her baby and their immediate family, and all of their other family, she happened to be driving down that slip road, intending to join the dual carriageway as you were speeding along it.
"You gave no thought and you just carried on in a selfish and arrogant way, giving no thought to anybody but yourself and the thrill seeking you wanted to get, showing off this vehicle. We have all seen the aftermath of that terrible crash. It’s astonishing nobody died. Absolutely astonishing. But that will be no comfort whatsoever to that mother and her children.
"It’s an interesting fact that if somebody had died, I would now be passing a sentence of between eight and 18 years. But here somebody's life - more than one person - has been affected in a catastrophic way. That little boy will never be able to have a normal childhood or adulthood. His mum will never have a normal motherhood in the sense she will see him growing up in the way she would want him to."
Judge Steven Everett sentenced Halliwell to 32 months in prison and disqualified him from driving for five years, with an extension of 16 months. The driving ban will not start until Halliwell leaves prison.
However, people have hit out at the "joke" sentencing claiming he should be made the spend the rest of his life behind bars. Taking to social media, Sandra Jones said: "I hope he never sleeps again knowing what he's done to that poor baby."
Others added how he should be "locked away" forever. Steven Shanley said: "That piece of s*** should be locked away for life" and Jane Carey added: "That sentence is a joke!! How can he live with himself knowing what he did!"
Karen O'leary also said: "32 months sentence what a joke." Julie Brandam said: "Should of had lengthy prison sentence and banned for life" and Bredna Handshaw wrote: "Should have got longer u horrible person."
Annette Camilleri claimed he should be "made to pay," she wrote: "Should be made to pay for the child’s care, for rest of the child’s life. He will only serve about 14 months of his prison sentence, got off very lightly."