FULL Justice for Kelly
When young Kelly Woodward was killed by a drunk driver her family were devastated - but now they have launched a campaign to change the law to make sure he serves his full sentence.
Jan, Kelly's mother, who lives in Windlestone Road in Billingham, on Teesside is angry that the drunk who killed her, could walk out of prison and back into the driver's seat of a car within just a few months.
Backed by the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, Jan has already succeeded in fighting for the 30 month prison sentence imposed on Andrew Burrell, to be increased to four and a half years and his driving ban extended to five years.
But she has now learned that the driving ban will be served concurrently with the prison sentence meaning that he will be eligible to drive within six months of his release.
"That can't possible be right and fair. Why on earth ban him from driving during a time when he won't be able to do so anyway? It's nonsense and you could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out," said Jan. "So we are going to campaign for a change in the law to make sure that his five year driving ban starts on the day he walks free - and not a day earlier. We are determined to get FULL JUSTICE for Kelly. The law has got to be changed"
Jan says the campaign isn't just about Kelly who was just 19 when she died: "It's about every drunk who kills or maims people and can serve their driving ban whilst in prison. It is not justice. I hope other parents, brothers, sisters and friends of other victims will join our campaign and make sure we keep these people off the road as long as possible," she said.
A petition will be launched within the next few days followed by another on-line within the next few weeks. A special web site will also be set up to make the campaign truly national. A letter writing campaign and a series of other activities will also be underway soon.
In the meantime, Jan is also seeking the support of national charities in the hope that they can help and advise her on how best to win the support for the change in the law.
She is also writing to local businesses seeking support to help fund the campaign. Anyone who would like to help can write to Jan at 21 Windlestone Road, Billingham, Stockton on Tees.
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