Jail for the Show-Off Driver...
Discussion
Per the "M.E.N" - 18/12/04
A show-off hit and run driver who was found to to have taken drugs and drinks hours before leaving one 13 year old dying in the road and another critically injured is today starting an 8 year jail term.
The sentence dished out to 35 year old night club owner Stephen Lewis has been criticised by BRAKE as "too lenient as he showed no regard for human life! He should have been sent to prison for 14 years"
The tragedy occurred at 10.30 pm on 8/ August 2004 at the long crossoroads between Long Causeway and Albert Road, Farnworth, Bolton,
(A 575 - Truvelo is about 1 mile further along this road in direction of Walkden, Manchester - know the area - was placed at Bolton District in student days.
Aparently Lewis's MR2 went trhough a red light at speeds up to 70 mph, spun out of control and hit a parked car before bouncing into 13 year old Carla and her friend Leanne as they stood at the kerbside.
Carla was thrown 20 yards further along the road and died of head injuries later that evening in the nearby Bolton hospital. Her friend, Leanne, spent 6 weeks in hospital (including ICU) with head injuries, pelvic injuries and liver damage. The pair were described in court as "bosom pals".
The court heard that 35 year old Lewis and his victims had all been at the same party at Lewis's home hours earlier
Not clear from this report if Lewis had given them a lift home
Lewis had been drinking and showing off to two teenage boys who were found sitting in the passenger seat of the two seater sports car.
After the crash - Lewis ran away and police found him at home dressed only in a blood spattered towel. They found he had loaded his clothes in the washing machine.
Surrounded by her family, Leanne heard the judge pass down an 8 year prison term, and hand Lewis a life time driving ban as he "constitutes a real and continuing danger to others!"
Lewis admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop atthe scene of an accident and driving whilst uninsured.
The court also heard that Lewis had been banned twice before for drink driving and had one previous speeding conviction.
Outside the court - Carla's family criticised the lenient sentence. Carla's aunt fumed: "We have lost a fun loving girl who lived life to the full. We miss her each and every day."
The court heard that the girls were standing at the crossroads of Long causeway and Albert Road at 10.30 pm that night. They had been at a party at Lewis's house with other teenagers hours earlier.
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Well - said it before - a scamera would be useless at preventing this - and perhaps a police car with sirens and flashing lights may have prompted the girls to stand further back from the kerb ... perhaps eventhe knowledge that the BiBs may be around may even have made him think twice before such dangerous actions.
On the other hand - am fairly tolerant Papa ... and I think, hope and pray I have instilled better sense in all my children. I would be seriously alarmed if I found mine had been at a party at some seedy 35 year old night club owner's home. (Granted the paper will have chosen the worst picture they could find as he is guilty of heinous crime) - but I would still be extemely concerned to point of livid if my kids were discovered mixing with someone who looks like that!
>>> Edited by Mad Moggie on Saturday 18th December 16:49
A show-off hit and run driver who was found to to have taken drugs and drinks hours before leaving one 13 year old dying in the road and another critically injured is today starting an 8 year jail term.
The sentence dished out to 35 year old night club owner Stephen Lewis has been criticised by BRAKE as "too lenient as he showed no regard for human life! He should have been sent to prison for 14 years"
The tragedy occurred at 10.30 pm on 8/ August 2004 at the long crossoroads between Long Causeway and Albert Road, Farnworth, Bolton,
(A 575 - Truvelo is about 1 mile further along this road in direction of Walkden, Manchester - know the area - was placed at Bolton District in student days.
Aparently Lewis's MR2 went trhough a red light at speeds up to 70 mph, spun out of control and hit a parked car before bouncing into 13 year old Carla and her friend Leanne as they stood at the kerbside.
Carla was thrown 20 yards further along the road and died of head injuries later that evening in the nearby Bolton hospital. Her friend, Leanne, spent 6 weeks in hospital (including ICU) with head injuries, pelvic injuries and liver damage. The pair were described in court as "bosom pals".
The court heard that 35 year old Lewis and his victims had all been at the same party at Lewis's home hours earlier
Not clear from this report if Lewis had given them a lift home
Lewis had been drinking and showing off to two teenage boys who were found sitting in the passenger seat of the two seater sports car.
After the crash - Lewis ran away and police found him at home dressed only in a blood spattered towel
. They found he had loaded his clothes in the washing machine. Surrounded by her family, Leanne heard the judge pass down an 8 year prison term, and hand Lewis a life time driving ban as he "constitutes a real and continuing danger to others!"
Lewis admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop atthe scene of an accident and driving whilst uninsured.
The court also heard that Lewis had been banned twice before for drink driving and had one previous speeding conviction.
Outside the court - Carla's family criticised the lenient sentence. Carla's aunt fumed: "We have lost a fun loving girl who lived life to the full. We miss her each and every day."
The court heard that the girls were standing at the crossroads of Long causeway and Albert Road at 10.30 pm that night. They had been at a party at Lewis's house with other teenagers hours earlier.
=========================================
Well - said it before - a scamera would be useless at preventing this - and perhaps a police car with sirens and flashing lights may have prompted the girls to stand further back from the kerb ... perhaps eventhe knowledge that the BiBs may be around may even have made him think twice before such dangerous actions.
On the other hand - am fairly tolerant Papa ... and I think, hope and pray I have instilled better sense in all my children. I would be seriously alarmed if I found mine had been at a party at some seedy 35 year old night club owner's home. (Granted the paper will have chosen the worst picture they could find as he is guilty of heinous crime
) - but I would still be extemely concerned to point of livid if my kids were discovered mixing with someone who looks like that! >>> Edited by Mad Moggie on Saturday 18th December 16:49
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