Couple's plea on Telford death crash driver's prison sentence fails
The parents of a nine-year-old Telford boy who died after being knocked down by a dangerous driver have lost their fight to appeal against his killer's sentence.
Jayden-Lee McIvor, was hit by a teenage driver who lived on his street while at a pelican crossing in Haybridge Road, Hadley.
Raja Khan, 19, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, was sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institute after admitting dangerous driving. But Khan was told he will only serve around one year after receiving a 20 per cent reduction for his early guilty plea as well as a further reduction for a good character.
Jayden-Lee's parents, Ross McIvor and Rachael Joules, wrote to the Attorney General asking to appeal the length of his term but have been told their bid was unsuccessful.
The couple received a letter from the solicitor general, Mr Oliver Heald QC MP, in which he said: "I am sorry to tell you that having considered this case I have decided that it would not be right to refer this case to the Court of Appeal as I do not believe they would increase the sentence."
The pair say they are bereft at the outcome and "do not know what to do".
Ms Joules said: "It's been a year since Jayden died, so in the same amount of time that's already gone by, his killer is going to be out.
"He lives on our street so we are not going to have time to start grieving or processing what's happened before we see him again."
She added: "A young offenders institute to me is no more than a children's home. They are not in prison locked up. They can mix with each other and play computer games.
"Giving him 20 years is not going to bring Jayden back but we wouldn't feel so insulted," said the 29-year-old mother-of-three.
Mr Heald QC told Jayden-Lee's parents he had given "very serious consideration" to their plight and wanted to write to them personally to explain his decision. He said he had reviewed the prosecution case papers, the judge's sentencing remarks and had taken independent advice.
He said had also read their "moving" victim impact statement and added: "Although I can't begin to imagine how awful it must be to have lost Jayden-Lee, I have been left in no doubt about the devastating effect that this has had on you and your family."
But Mr Heald QC said he was satisfied the judge chose the appropriate starting point for sentencing. He said: "Having looked at the offence and how the judge arrived at the sentence that he passed I do not believe that the Court of Appeal would increase the sentence."
