Parents of girl, four, killed by 83mph driver for tougher sentences for death by dangerous driving

The grieving parents of a four-year-old girl who was killed by a driver in a stolen car have called for tougher sentences for dangerous driving.

Violet-Grace Youens was knocked down by a black Ford car as she walked home with her grandmother in St Helens, Merseyside, in March 2017.

Aidan McAteer, then 23, pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving and was jailed for nine years and four months but could be eligible for early release.

Now Violet-Grace’s parents Rebecca and Glenn Youens are campaigning for ‘a life sentence for a life taken’, reports the BBC. 

 

Four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens, pictured, was knocked down by a car as she walked home with her grandmother in St Helens, Merseyside, in March 2017

Parents Rebecca and Glenn Youens, pictured after McAteer was sentenced in May 2017, want tougher sentences for death by dangerous driving convictions

Parents Rebecca and Glenn Youens, pictured after McAteer was sentenced in May 2017, want tougher sentences for death by dangerous driving convictions

In 2017 the Government promised life sentences for death by dangerous driving but no legislation has been passed two years on.

Speaking with the BBC Mrs Youens said: ‘We have a life sentence, Glenn [Violet’s father] has a life sentence and most importantly Violent has a life sentence.

‘Since Violet’s death other families have suffered too. We’re all being insulted by the current system and that is why it needs to change.’

Mrs Youens said she believes McAteer and his passenger Dean Brennan should be in ‘prison for life’ and that death by dangerous driving is ‘looked upon too leniently.’ 

Brennan, 27, fled with McAteer after the crash and was also jailed for six years and eight months. 

In an online petition, which has received more than 160,000 signatures, Mrs Youens explained how she doesn’t want other families to suffer like her own.

Aidan McAteer, then 23, was jailed for nine years and four months

Dean Brennan, then 27, was jailed for six years and eight months

Aidan McAteer (left), admitted causing the youngster’s death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to her grandmother Angela French, who was with her at the time. Dean Brennan (right), 27, was jailed for six years and eight months after admitting the aggravated taking of a vehicle and assisting an offender

Mother Mrs Youens said: 'We have a life sentence, Glenn [Violet's father] has a life sentence and most importantly Violent has a life sentence.' Pictured is Violet-Grace

Mother Mrs Youens said: ‘We have a life sentence, Glenn [Violet’s father] has a life sentence and most importantly Violent has a life sentence.’ Pictured is Violet-Grace

She said: ‘The men who killed our daughter drove a stolen a car at 83 mph in a 30 mph zone. 

‘They killed our 4-year-old daughter Violet-Grace and severely injured her nan, who has life-changing injuries. 

‘They will serve less time in prison than Violet was alive. I don’t want other families to suffer like this.’ 

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told the BBC they intend ‘to give courts the power to hand down life sentences for death by dangerous driving’ and the proposal will be brought forward when ‘parliamentary time allows.’   

On the day of the crash McAteer drove the stolen Fiesta ST3, which had cloned number plates, at 80mph in a 30mph area of St Helens.

Mr and Mrs Youens, pictured, have started a petition online to get Violet-Grace's Law debated in parliament

Mr and Mrs Youens, pictured, have started a petition online to get Violet-Grace’s Law debated in parliament

Violet-Grace died in hospital from her injuries

Violet-Grace's mother said she didn't want other families to suffer. Pictured is the four-year-old

Violet-Grace, pictured left and right, died in hospital from her injuries after the crash. Her grand-mother was left with life changing injuries 

The four-year-old's coffin was covered in pictures from the movie Trolls and pink flowers

The four-year-old’s coffin was covered in pictures from the movie Trolls and pink flowers

He went through two red lights before spinning out of control and hitting 55-year-old Angela French, who was carrying her grand-daughter. 

The car hit a lamppost and the defendants got out of the driver’s door and ran past Violet-Grace’s body to make their escape.

In May 2017 Liverpool Crown Court was told that Mrs Angela French, a former nurse, was facing the possibility of amputation and may never walk again.

McAteer’s mother Alicia, who was in court, contacted police after seeing CCTV footage circulated by officers. She appealed for him to turn himself in.

McAteer caught a flight to Amsterdam ‘to clear his head and smoke some weed’ after the crash and returned six days later to be arrested.

After sentencing in May 2017 Mr and Mrs Youens, pictured, said: 'We should be shopping for her school uniform, not her headstone'

After sentencing in May 2017 Mr and Mrs Youens, pictured, said: ‘We should be shopping for her school uniform, not her headstone’

CCTV footage played in court showed McAteer running down a nearby street in the moments following the crash

CCTV footage played in court showed McAteer running down a nearby street in the moments following the crash

Violet-Grace’s parents brought the courtroom to tears when they described their loss in a moving victim impact statement.

Mrs Youens said: ‘You do everything to try to protect your child, looking out for meningitis, childhood cancer, and then it’s taken away in an instant by two inconsiderate criminals who didn’t care for anybody that day apart from themselves.

‘We should be shopping for her school uniform, not her headstone.’

Her husband, who broke down in tears, said: ‘I go into her bedroom every night and read to her ashes the bedtime stories she used to love.

‘She was the light of my life, my little super hero, my best friend.’    

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