Courts 'lenient on killer drivers'

BRITAIN'S top traffic cop and South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes has hit out at the courts, saying they have "signally failed" to punish drivers who kill.

Referring to the agony of the family of seven-year-old Kyle McDermott, whose killer received just a five month sentence after a hit-and-run incident in Mexborough, Mr Hughes said: “I urge the community to express their feelings by supporting the campaign by the McDermott family to call for longer sentences for hit-and-run drivers.”

Kyle’s killer Christopher Collins received just a five-month jail sentence in August after leaving the scene of the crime when he ran the young lad down almost exactly a year ago.

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During an 11-month period he repeatedly denied he had anything to do with the death but eventually came clean at his trial at Doncaster Crown Court.

He received the five-month sentence for failing to stop and perverting the course of justice.

He was eligible for early release last week and it is believed he may already be back on the street.

Kyle’s distraught mother Katy has started a campaign for longer sentences for hit-and-run killers.

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She said yesterday: “I have been informed that Collins is out of prison – I think it is disgusting. It makes a mockery of the legal system.

“My family is being punished for life after what he did to Kyle.”

Mr Hughes, who is the Association of Chief Police Officers’ spokesman on roads policing, said: “It’s disappointing that the strong feeling within the area was not reflected in the length of the sentence given and I understand the concern people have that an offender can be released only a few short weeks after his court appearance.

Courts across the country have signally failed to at times to adequately punish drivers who kill others. Drivers have a responsibility to stop at the scene of collisions and ensure victims receive assistance.

“The law must ensure that those who fail to comply with those simple procedures are correctly punished.”