Pop star's widow jailed after second drink-drive death

THE WIDOW of Steve Marriott, singer and guitarist with the Small Faces, was jailed for five years and disqualified from driving for 10 years yesterday after a drink- drive crash in which a woman was killed.

Toni Marriott, 33, who was 2.5 times over the legal limit, was a 'menace and a danger to the public' after being involved in a second fatal crash yards from where her sister died in a similar incident, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Miss Marriott, 33, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Penny Jessup, 21, in North Weald, Essex, last October while driving without due care and attention when over the alcohol limit.

David Williams, for the prosecution, said a motorist saw Marriott driving towards him and was 'surprised' at her speed in the wet conditions. He believed she was travelling at between 50- 60mph in a 40mph area. The driver saw Marriott's Vauxhall Astra GTE hit the nearside kerb then veer to his side of the road, colliding almost head-on with Miss Jessup's Seat Marbella. Marriott, of Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, suffered minor injuries. A blood sample showed she had 200 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr Williams told the court that in May 1983, Marriott was driving down the same road with her elder sister, Joanna, in the front passenger seat when the car hit bridge railings. Her sister died instantly. Marriott was later fined pounds 185 for driving with excess alcohol and disqualified from driving for 18 months.