Anger over judges' sentencing for killer drivers
Three out of four dangerous drivers who killed someone behind the wheel received jail sentences of less than seven years – half the maximum sentence available.
Judges can jail a person convicted of causing death by dangerous driving for up to 14 years under guidelines.
Government ministers are to extend the maximum sentence to life but figures obtained by the Express & Star from the Ministry of Justice show most of those convicted do not get close to the current maximum sentence.
Out of 45 people guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court from 2007 to 2017, just 11 received between seven and 14 years imprisonment.
Most, 21, received between four and seven years while eight got between two and four years and one got up to two years. Two received suspended sentences.
In May, outside the period the figures are for, Tyler Kendall was jailed for six years for killing mother Vikki Jones in Gornal while showing off.
He hit Ms Jones’ car in Wood Road after reaching speeds of 75mph in the 30mph limit.
A spokesman for the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said: “Judges sentence according to the individual facts of each case and within the relevant sentencing guidelines.”
The Express & Star is running a campaign called Stop the Speeders, calling for tougher sentences from judges. Walsall MP Eddie raised it in Parliament, prompting Government Minister Rory Steward to promise action.
Sign the Stop the Speeders petition by visiting www.change.org
The campaign’s petition boasts more than 3,500 signatures.
Cases which sparked the move included the death of Georgie Evans, a former pupil of Kinver High School, who died when her car was hit by an Audi A6 driven by Kuba Oles.
The Polish immigrant was speeding along Priory Road in Dudley when it happened, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The 24-year-old, of Beaconview Road, West Bromwich, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Meanwhile 21-year-old Rebecca McManus was waiting at a bus stop when Sukvinder Mannan, who was driving at 101mph, hit and killed her.
The fatal crash in Hagley Road West in Bearwood resulted in 34-year-old Mannan, from Halesowen, being jailed for eight years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Fury at response to crash death
An MP has accused a council of not taking the death of a young mother seriously after taking a year to address road safety concerns.
Dudley Council has proposed road markings and extra signage on Wood Road in Lower Gornal, following the death of Vikki Jones at the hands of a dangerous driver.
But Dudley North MP Ian Austin has accused the council of being too slow after handing a petition in last September demanding safety improvements.
The young mother died when her car, which also had her 11-year-old daughter in, was hit by Tyler Kendall’s BMW.
It was estimated Kendall hit speeds of 75mph within the 30mph speed limit of the road before hitting Ms Jones’ car. He then fled the scene.
The electrician was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment, said today that safety improvements to the road, which is on a steep slope, were being considered.
She said: “We will investigate if additional signage and road markings are required at junctions, and their approaches, to increase driver awareness and consider if additional ‘slow’ markings are required across the estate.
“It is the driver’s responsibility to drive in accordance with the legal speed limit.”
Mr Austin said: “Of course it’s the driver’s responsibility, but irresponsible lunatics are using local roads like racetracks and a young mother has lost her life so you’d have hoped the council would take this more seriously and see what changes they could make more urgently.”
