Family of Lillie Clack who died after drink-drive Christmas Day crash call for death-crash drivers' immediate ban so that their pain “means something”

Assistant Coroner Sebastian Naughton concluded that Lillie was unlawfully killed by drink-driver, Charlie Hilton from Tadworth, Surrey in December 2021.

Lillie’s family are campaigning for Lillie’s Law which advocates for:

• People who cause death while driving to have their licence immediately suspended
• People convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to receive a minimum 25-year sentence
• Lifetime driving bans for anyone convicted of causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence

Lillie, from Morden, south London, had been at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland on Christmas Eve 2021, when she and her friends were offered a lift home in a car driven by Charlie Hilton from Tadworth, Surrey.

In the early hours of Christmas Day, following a pursuit by police, the car crashed in Carshalton. Lillie suffered extensive injuries including a severe head injury and died three days later at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

In February 2023, Hilton was jailed for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to causing Lillie's death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop when directed by police and driving above the alcohol limit.

An inquest into Lillie’s death was held from Thursday 19 to Friday 20 June 2025 at South London Second Coroners Court at Croydon Town Hall and heard evidence from the Met Police.

The assistant coroner said the evidence showed Hilton’s actions could be considered as gross negligence as he fled police, reaching over 100mph at some points in the chase, carried out an illegal U-turn and ran a red a light as passengers inside the car begged him to stop.

Lillie’s family are represented by David Preston from the personal injury team at law firm Leigh Day.  

Lillie’s mum, Debbie Clack said:

“Lillie went through a horrific ordeal and we are continuing to live through this every day. More than four years on, we still had questions about what happened on 25 December, 2021. These could only begin to be answered by the officers who chased Hilton, and with the evidence they have given during this inquest.  

“But let me be clear, none of this changes the fact that Hilton killed my daughter. He pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving while more than twice the legal alcohol limit, running from the police, refusing to stop, losing control of his car, and crashing into a tree. That crash caused a bleed on Lillie’s brain. Damage so severe that her heart stopped beating three days later on December 28th, 2021. She was just 22. My baby girl.

“If going through today’s pain means something changes, if it shines a light on what went wrong and stops even one other family from feeling this kind of grief, then it was worth it. This is why we are campaigning for Lillie’s Law.

“It cannot be right that any driver involved in a fatal crash gets to go home with still carrying their licence in their pocket. It is also the case that too often those convicted of injuring people by their dangerous driving while under the influence can one day return to the road.  

“What happened to Lillie, her family, friends and the whole community, has to mean something. We all need to believe that lessons will be learned.”

Leigh Day partner David Preston said:

“The collision that killed Lillie continues to have a profound impact on her family and friends. Christmas will never be the same for them again.

"Lillie's family showed incredible strength returning to court to hear more evidence about what happened that night in south London. This resilience comes from a determination to ensure no one else need experience what they have been through.

“Tens of thousands of people have now backed the family’s campaign for Lillie’s Law. It calls for drivers involved in fatal crashes to have their licence immediately suspended, longer minimum jail terms and for lifetime bans for anyone convicted of causing death or serious injury by dangerous driving while under the influence.

“A change in the law would be a fitting tribute to Lillie, whose death has been devastating for her family and friends and has left a lasting impact on her local community.

"Cars are lethal weapons when driven carelessly. There are far too many crashes on the UK's roads and things need to change."

Imogen Todd from Deka Chambers was instructed as counsel.