Safe Speed Forums

Per "M.E.N" - 18/12/04

Hit and run driver has been jailed for 8 years: nightclub owner had been on a cocktail of drugs and drink shortly before he killed a 13 year old and critically injured her friend.

The tragedy occurred when S Lewis's Toyota MR2 struck 13 year old Carla and her friend Leanne as they stood side by side at the kerb. Seconds earlier it had driven through a red light at "up to 70mph", spun out of control and hit a line of parked cars - before colliding with Carla - who was flung 20 yards in the air along the road and died of head injuries later that evening at Royal Bolton Hospital. Leanne suffered head, pelvis and liver injuries, and spent 6 weeks in hospital - part of which in ICU. The pair were described in court as "bosom pals".

The court heard that 35 year old Lewis and his victims had been at the same party hours earlier. Lewis had been drinking and showing off to two 13 year old boys sitting together in the passengeer seat of the two- seater sports car.

(It is not clear from any report whether the girls had also been riding in this car and been dropped off - reads a bit strange here - just typing what it says in paper!)

After the crash Lewis ran away and was found at home - wearing only a blood spattered towel. Police found rest of his clothes in the washing machine

Surrounded by her family, Leanne heard the judge jail "unemotional" Lewis for 8 years and dish out a life time ban from driving as "he represented a very real and continual danger to others!"

Lewis admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop at an accident, failing to provide a breath specimen and driving without insurance.

Scam would have prevented this accident? Oh yeah? And IG, Lawman, The Man, and Ian may not have been able to prevent this either - but perhaps blues and twos may have warned the girls to back well away from the kerb at the very least

The court heard that lewis had been banned twice before for drink driving !

Recidivist with a drink problem ....maybe jail will help keep him on the wagon

However, Carla's family are fuming at the 8 year prison term - "It is not long enough! We have lost a fun loving girl who lived life to the full and we miss her every single day!"

Both girls attended Harper Green Secondary School and were standing at the crossroads (a wide crossing as I recall from student day placing at Bolton District Hospital) of LongCauseway and Albert Road, Farnworth at 10.30 pm on the evening of 8 August 2004 when this accident occurred.

Tragically they had been at a party at Lewis's home with a group of other teenagers hours earlier.

BRAKE has condemned the sentence saying that Lewis "had a complete disregard of human life and should have received the full 14 years for his crime."

I am inclined to agree that this chap deserves a long jail term - given that he has been banned before and not learned anything from the experience, and does not even bother to insure his car either.

However, am a tolerant Papa on the whole - but I would be most alarmed if I were to discover my three eldest went to parties at some seedy (and granted that media chooses the worst photos of people who commit "heinous crimes" - but he looks most unpleasant regardless) 35 year old's home and may have been indulging in under age drinking and drug taking. Let us just say that I think, hope and pray I have brought them up to know better....and if I were to discover they had done anything like this - they know what to expect discipline-wise from both me and Wildy.

Only Twice?
Tonights 'Nottm Eve Post' carries a report of a man who has just been caught driving whilst disqualified (doesn't state reasons for disqualifications...drugged driving??) for the 15th TIME

Er...he has been warned he won't be given any more chances.

The man admitted the new offence, plus charges of driving without insurance, dangerous driving and burglary. His sentence was deferred in August for him to complete a drug treatment and testing order.

His 'legal eagle', said he was ?complying? "extremely well" with the order.

"He is now with his partner," and "She is three months pregnant with their child and he really does seem to be turning his life around."(?HUH?)

Judge Joan Butler QC said: "Keep up the good work, otherwise, having been given a chance which you have grasped with both hands, I don't think you will get another."

He has been banned from driving for two years, put on a six-month drug treatment and testing order and his licence was endorsed.

He was caught after police tried to pull him over last year. the 36yr old put his foot down, ignored a red light at the junction of Lenton Boulevard and Gregory Street, and straddled the pavement in Derby Road

At the QMC roundabout he mounted the central reservation and drove the wrong way around the island and his car collided head-on with a Vauxhall sports car the driver sustaining minor injuries.

He was also hurt and was treated in hospital before being arrested. He also committed a burglary the previous day.

And, he walks away with ANOTHER 'WARNING'

Just a matter of time before he kills some innocent person.
A classic case of 'cuckoo land dwelling judges' passing insane judgements on would be killer drivers!

GRRRRRRRRRR!!