Sussex man jailed after killing passenger in drink-driving crash

Marcus Phillips was travelling southbound on the A2037 near Henfield when he smashed into a tree.

His passenger, Patrick Calum O’Sullivan, known as Calum, was killed in the collision. He was 24.

Phillips, now known as Marcus Saunders, left the scene and later went to hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Phillips was driving on the A2037 when he collided with a tree, killing his passenger (Image: Sussex Police)

After being tested for alcohol, it was found that he was over the legal limit at the time of the collision.

Hove Crown Court heard the crash, at around 12.15am on May 29, 2021, happened when Phillips failed to negotiate a bend in the road before slamming into a tree.

The car’s speedometer was stuck at 75mph after the impact, indicating he was travelling at excess speed.

A blood test in hospital found the 22-year-old was twice the legal limit for alcohol.

At Hove Crown Court in February Phillips, from Mannings Heath near Horsham, admitted causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for alcohol and causing death while uninsured.

Marcus Phillips, now known as Marcus Saunders (Image: Sussex Police)

He was today sentenced to five years and one month in prison and was ordered to serve half his sentence in custody with the remainder spent on licence subject to conditions.

He was banned from driving for five and a half years and ordered to take an extended re-test before driving again.

Delivering the sentence, Judge Jeremy Gold KC said: “There can be no starker illustration of a case of drunken driving.

“The seriousness of the driving falls just short of dangerous driving. There is no doubt that the degree of intoxication was a significant factor.”

Speaking after the case, Calum’s mother Laura Crosbie said: “There are no winners today.

“We have all lost someone irreplaceable and no sentence will do anything to ease that loss.”

Calum O'Sullivan was killed in the collision at the age of 24 (Image: Sussex Police)

Detective Sergeant Rob Baldwin from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This is another tragic reminder of the danger of drinking alcohol and driving.

“It remains one of the main factors of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“In this case, a young man lost his life and a family have to deal with the devastating aftermath of this incident.

“Phillips is very lucky to have escaped with his own life and will be left having to rue the consequences of his actions.

“This was an entirely preventable and avoidable incident that has caused pain and heartache.

“This should be a warning to everyone not to drink alcohol and drive and also not to get into a car as a passenger with a driver who has been drinking.”