AT 2pm today, the heartbreaking story of how four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens was killed by a hit-and-run driver will feature on ITV's Judge Rinder Crime Stories.

Violet-Grace, from Eccleston, died on Saturday, March 25, 2017 after being struck by a stolen car on Prescot Road on Friday, March 24. The Ford Fiesta was travelling in excess of 70mph in a 30mph zone.

The car had been through two red lights before it lost control and hit a kerb before colliding with Angela French, Violet's nan, who was crossing the road with her granddaughter in her arms.

The four-year-old died a day later and the incident left Mrs French with life-changing injuries and in hospital for many weeks.

 

Violet-Grace's parents Glenn and Becky Youens, both 31, who also have a son Oliver, three, shared the news of the programme, which they explained took them a year to decide to take part in, vbut wanted to highlight the "injustice" they have felt over the sentences of the men whose actions claimed their daughter's short life.

The programme, will air at 2pm today, Wednesday, January 9, and will tell how following the fatal crash, both the driver and passenger in the car fled the scene, running past injured Violet on the floor.

Driver Aidan McAteer, then 23, boarded a plane to Amsterdam within hours of the collision only returning to the country when his mum made an appeal for him to come back via Merseyside Police.

In May 2017, McAteer was sentenced to nine years and four months and the passenger, Dean Brennan, then aged 27, was jailed for six years and eight months after admitting the aggravated taking of a vehicle and assisting an offender.

It will also say that Violet's story did not stop at her death, as the little girl went on to save two lives by becoming an organ donor.

Since then a charity has been established in her name – Violet-Grace's Gift – to promote organ donation, help local hospitals, community projects, bereaved parents and seriously ill children.

To tune in click here at 2pm.