THE mum of a 14-year-old who was killed by a dangerous driver has launched a petition calling for all convicted of that crime to be given lifelong driving bans.
Courtney Ellis from Haydock was just 14-years-old when she was hit by a car speeding between 73 and 93mph on Blackbrook Road on the night of September 19, 2020.
The man convicted of the crime, Brandon Turton, 21, pleaded guilty in Liverpool Crown Court and last month was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
Turton was also disqualified from driving for seven years and four months.
The driving disqualification started from the start of his sentence, meaning upon release in three years he will only have four years remaining on his driving ban.
Courtney’s heartbroken mum, Angela Burke, has now launched a petition calling for a law change in relation to the driving ban, asking for those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to be given a lifetime driving ban.
She said: “Imagine losing your child through dangerous driving. Imagine having to face him in court and hearing his sentence.
“Then imagine on top of that hearing that despite using a car dangerously causing the death of a child, he was given a seven year driving ban to start immediately, so on his release he will only have four years left after he gets out on licence before he can apply to drive again.
“Imagine thinking in seven years I could pass him driving a car again, the same thing he used viciously in hitting my Courtney. Well I don’t have to imagine because that’s my reality.
“Because of his driving at dangerous speeds Courtney suffered horrific injuries from the impact.
“Her brain stem severed on impact and she suffered a fractured skull on her forehead and her lungs were punctured from broken ribs from the impact leading to internal bleeding and she had broken bones and open breaks.
“She was left bleeding in the road.
“My daughter suffered and I along with my closest family suffered too.
“I know I can’t do anything about his sentence, the law has thankfully changed regarding this crime, but I can try to do something about driving bans because driving is a luxury.
“Any driver has had to pass their test, do lessons and learn the laws of the road. A vehicle in the wrong hands is a weapon.
“It’s not the same as it being an accident if you are found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving because that means you used drove dangerously not carelessly.”
Angela added: “So, I’m asking please that people please sign my petition calling for the people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to receive lifelong driving bans additional to whatever sentence they get.
“Because driving is a luxury, there is no reason why drivers convicted of this, like Turton, can’t come out of jail and have a normal life without driving.
“Loads of people don’t drive and have normal lives. But if you abuse that luxury to that level that you are jailed you should never be able to have it again.
“Please sign my petition for my Courtney and for future Courtneys. It may make people think twice about such acts.
“Courtney had a life and dreams and hopes, she gets none of that now, she never got to have those luxuries, why should dangerous drivers be able to ever have the luxury of driving again?”
To sign the petition go to petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623592
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