Family pay tribute to daughter as killer jailed

The family of a woman who died after she was hit by a car in a drink driving incident have released a tribute after her killer was jailed today.

Laszlo Dancs, 28, of Heathfield Road, Acton, appeared at the Old Bailey where he was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment for causing the death of Olivia Helen Riley by dangerous driving, drink driving, drug driving and failing to provide a breath sample. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.

Dancs previously pleaded guilty at the same court on May 23.

On May 14, 2022, Ms Riley, who was 41 and from Suffolk, was walking her dogs in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea when she was struck by a car being driven by Dancs.

Officers attended with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, but sadly, despite their efforts, Ms Riley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ms Riley’s three dogs – two Labradors called Lily and Maia and a Golden Retriever puppy called Darcy – were also killed in the collision.

A spokesman for Olivia Riley’s family said: “No sentence can restore that light or the mental health of all of us who will mourn her loss for the rest of our lives.

“Today’s sentence should reflect Dancs’ abdication of responsibility for the lethal consequences of his actions.

“This is insignificant compared with the final tragedy of justice, that Dancs should have escaped the current tariff of life imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving because he ended Olivia’s life six weeks before this relevant and appropriate sentence was introduced to law.

“We hope and pray that Mr Dancs will dedicate the rest of his life to personal repentance and preventing others from following his life destroying choices.”

Dancs, then aged 26, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was taken into police custody.

He was charged on November 14, 2022 with causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving, drug driving and failing to provide a breath sample.

Detective Sergeant Dale Luke of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “Olivia Riley’s life was cut short by the reckless actions of Dancs.

“Were it not for his actions she would still be enjoying walks with her beloved dogs today.”

Pictured top: Olivia Helen Riley with one of her dogs (Picture: The Met)