THE mum of hit-and-run victim Violet-Grace Youens has spoken of her anger after the driver who struck her daughter appeared to post Instagram pictures of his birthday celebrations from prison.

Aidan McAteer was sentenced to nine years and four months in May after hitting the four-year-old and her nan Angela French in a stolen vehicle travelling more than 80mph on Prescot Road – causing the little girl’s death.

McAteer, now 24, posted photographs – apparently from a smuggled phone - on social media to mark his first birthday behind bars.

It shows a birthday card calling him ‘HMP Birthday Boy’ stating that “you can lock the locks but you can’t stop the clocks".

Violet’s mum Rebecca Youens took to Facebook in disgust at the post labelling McAteer “disrespectful” and a “stain on this earth”.

The 29-year-old said: “Well happy birthday to you Aidan McAteer... nice how you are actually alive and can hug your mum and contact friends and family on your birthday... my beautiful innocent Violet-Grace who you killed is reduced to ashes.

“You are so disrespectful, and obviously do not care what you have done.

"If you had to see the images and have the nightmares I have on a constant basis maybe you might have a slight insight to our pain and suffering.

“You're not sorry, only sorry you were caught. You stepped over my baby girl dead in the road and ran away to TWO different countries as you wanted to go and 'smoke some weed and clear your head'.

“If you must know, I have a big birthday coming up, which I cannot face to celebrate without my baby girl - I just about get through each hour!!!

“We are eagerly awaiting her headstone, instead of shopping for her school uniform. Oh and her birthday is not far away in the autumn, she would be 5, and settling into reception class with all her friends.

“Instead they are traumatised by your actions and scared 'the bad man will get them too'.

“You are not sorry; this was no accident."

She added: "You made the decision to drive aggressively at speeds of up to 83mph in a 30 mph zone, in a stolen car, with nurseries, a park, families around and elderly care homes... you then ran away.

“Someone was going to be killed that day with the way you were driving a highly powered machine with no licence to use it.

“You are low life SCUM and a stain on this earth!!! You have not learned your lesson, only a few months in prison and already breaking the rules and disrespecting my daughter who you killed.

“It's nice you get to hug your mum on your birthday - I will spend my birthday crying my eyes out for my baby girl who you stole from me, and likewise when it is her birthday soon after, I will be hugging a box of ashes, which is what you have reduced her to.

“You are evil and I hope one day you realise the devastation and carnage you have caused."

Violet’s dad Glenn Youens also took to Facebook saying: “Let me tell you I don't care what you have to live with because by the looks of it, you are living with what you did very well.

“You've got no remorse whatsoever. You got out of the car and you stepped over Violet's lifeless body in the road and ran off while other people was running to help her!

“She fought so hard to stay with us but after being hit by the car YOU chose to steal, YOU chose to drive, YOU chose to drive at over 80mph it was just too much for her and you killed her.

“But she donated her only suitable organs (because you left her so damaged and broken) and was able to do something you could never do. Give something back to the world.

“She gave life to other people. She was such a kind, caring child and always thought of other people and she did this right until the very end and even in her death.

“You miss your mum and look forward to seeing her; at least you can count down the days until you see her, this is something we can never do.

“We live in a country where the justice system lets us and Violet down as the victims, but yet it seems to support crimes and criminals like you!

“You will serve less time in prison than Violet was alive! How is this justice, it's a insult, a joke!

“I hope MoJ make an example of you and do not let us down, for having a phone in prison and give you more time than just an extra three months as we all have a life sentence, and anything extra you get inside is no less than you deserve.”

Below: a post by Glenn Youens in response to news of McAteer's use of a mobile phone while in prison

St Helens Star:

A Prison Service Spokesperson said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are taking immediate action. We are clear that those who break the rules will be punished and can face extra time behind bars.

“We are taking decisive action to find and block mobile phones in prison, including a £2million investment in detection wands and legislation to block phones from being in prisons.”