Adlington man jailed for part in road death cover-up (From Chorley Citizen)

Adlington man jailed for part in road death cover-up

11:57am Monday 25th January 2010

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A 22-year-old Chorley man has been jailed after being found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice following the death of his friend in a road accident.

Leslie Helm, of Railway Road, Adlington was a passenger in the car in which Steven Ball, 20 died in the early hours of Thursday, January 1, 2009 on the A6 Lostock Lane, Bamber Bridge.

Stephen Helm, 27 of Stockdale Crescent, Bamber Bridge was found guilty causing death by dangerous driving following a three week trial and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Passengers Leslie Helm and Andrew Walch, 19, of Alexandra Street, Preston were found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and were sentenced to two years in prison.

The accident, involving a black Skoda Octavia saw the rear seat passenger, Steven Ball, from The Crescent in Bamber Bridge lose his life.

The car failed to negotiate a left hand bend coming to rest down an embankment at the edge of Church Road.

The car was ablaze when emergency services arrived and Steven Ball was pronounced dead at the scene.

A telephone call was made from the scene to the emergency services regarding the accident before the vehicle was set alight.

All the other occupants had fled the scene prior to police arrival.

A police investigation discovered that there were three other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the collision, and the driver Stephen Helm came forward following an emotional public appeal by Steven’s mother Joan.

The other occupants Andrew Walch and Leslie Helm were traced by police.

Walch provided false information both to the police operator and the ambulance service with regards to his identity and the circumstances of his involvement in the incident.

During the course of the investigation both men further provided misleading information regarding the identity of the driver and concealed items of potential forensic value.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Des Coop from Lancashire Police said: “This is a dreadful case where a young man has needlessly lost his life due to the stupidity of others.

“Further, the actions of these men in leaving their friend in the street, and then trying to cover up their own tracks, was despicable.”

Helm was also handed an additional two month prison sentence for unrelated matters.

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