Police have launched an appeal to trace a Milton Keynes father who failed to appear for his own trial and has now been convicted, in his absence, of causing the death of his seven-month-old daughter in a drink-driving crash.
Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, of Garraways in the Coffee Hall area of the city, was found guilty by a unanimous jury on Monday of causing death by dangerous driving, following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court that ran from 22 June. He did not attend any part of the proceedings. Thames Valley Police said he had since been sentenced in his absence to 15 years’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 18 years, and that officers were now appealing to the public for help in locating him.
The case centres on a collision on 4 December 2022, when Sakyi was driving his grey Peugeot 508 on the H10 Bletcham Way in Milton Keynes. The court heard he had crossed onto the wrong side of the road and travelled for a considerable distance before colliding head-on with a green Fiat 500 being driven by Shannon Willison, between the Bond Avenue and Fenny Lock roundabouts. Jurors were told that Ms Willison had flashed her lights and sounded her horn in an attempt to attract his attention, but that he continued driving straight towards her.
Sakyi’s daughter, Emmanuela, was in the front of the car at the time, sitting on her mother’s lap rather than in a car seat or other appropriate restraint. Prosecutor Daren Samat told the court this arrangement was “wholly inappropriate and dangerous.” The baby suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital, but died as a result. Tests later showed Sakyi had been driving with more than twice the legal alcohol limit in his system, a standard the prosecution said left him “demonstrably far below” that of any reasonable motorist.
The court also heard that Sakyi did not remain at the scene. Prosecutors said he left on foot, believing himself responsible for the crash and unwilling to wait for police, though it was acknowledged he may not have known at that stage how serious his daughter’s injuries were. He was arrested shortly afterwards outside his home address. A second person, Ruth Oppong, 32, of Coventry, was separately charged in late 2024 in connection with the same collision, with offences including aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a child, according to MKFM and the Milton Keynes Citizen.
Detective Sergeant Ed Crofts, the lead investigating officer from Thames Valley Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said enquiries to locate Sakyi had been ongoing since his failure to appear in court. “This is a devastating case where a child’s life has been lost,” he said. “Our enquiries are focused on ensuring Sakyi faces the consequences of his actions.”
Sakyi is described by police as a black man of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes, and standing around 5ft 3in tall. Members of the public who see him are asked not to approach him but to call 999 immediately. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 101, or to make a report online quoting reference 20260622-2396. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
