Death driver loses sentence appeal

The mum of a 20-year-old motorcyclist who died in a hit and run says she’s ‘relieved’ an appeal by the person who killed her daughter to shorten his jail sentence has been thrown out.

Shane Kelk, 28, of no fixed abode, left Amy Cooper lying in the road on New River Gate, Holbeach St John’s on November 13 last year.
Amy, of Whaplode Drove, died from multiple pelvic and abdominal injuries after her treasured green Kawasaki motorcycle was hit by the grey BMW 3 series estate being driven by Kelk attempting an overtake in foggy conditions.
In February he was jailed for eight years and three months by Lincoln Crown Court after the hearing was told at the time of the collision he was still on licence.
It followed a jail sentence of six years and nine months imprisonment passed in 2017 for his involvement at an armed incident in Long Sutton.
He also admitted being disqualified from driving on the day of the collision, having no insurance, failing to provide his details at the scene and possessing a small amount of cannabis on his arrest.
But on Tuesday Kelk was at the Court of Appeal in London with lawyers on his behalf arguing the sentence was too excessive on the grounds there had been no other evidence of poor driving.
However the appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Johnson who ruled that the sentence was ‘not manifestly excessive’, the BBC reported.
Amy’s mum Amanda Cooper said: “We’re hugely relieved but frustrated that we have had to go through this process. It has been very distressing.”
She’d previously said: “Whatever length it is, it won’t give us what we want and that is our beautiful girl back.
“Amy was such a dynamic personality her loss has left a huge hole in our hearts, but somehow we have to focus on all the wonderful memories of happy times with her and use them to help us move forward.
“I really hope that her tragic death at such a young age will make drivers pause and consider what the results of impatience can be.
“I don’t want other families to suffer the devastation ours has and would urge drivers to be more aware of vulnerable road users.”