THE parents of Violet-Grace Youens are appealing for people to sign their petition calling for tougher sentences for drivers that kill before the second anniversary of her death.

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 at 83mph in a 30mph zone.

St Helens Star:

The Youens, in happier times

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

The driver of the car, Aidan McAteer, was sentenced to just over nine years behind bars, which he will end up serving four years of and the rest on parole.

Violet-Grace's parents Glenn and Becky Youens, both 31, who also have a son Oliver, three, say that this is not enough and launched an online petition calling for tougher sentences.

So far, less than a month since launching the petition, they have reached 87,000 signatures, but want to reach the 100,000 target needed for the matter to be discussed in Parliament before Violet's second anniversary of her death on Monday, March 25.

They said: "They killed our four-year-old daughter Violet-Grace and her nan with life-changing injuries but for that they will serve less time in prison than Violet was alive.

"We don’t want other families to suffer like this.

St Helens Star:

Violet and her nan and brother Oliver

"We are coming up to Violet’s second anniversary and we are still picking up the pieces.

"It would mean everything to reach 100,000 by Violet's anniversary, please help us get there."

To sign the petition go to bit.ly/VioletGracesLaw

You must click on the email sent to you to make your signature count.

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