Kidderminster mum of teen killed in Shropshire crash 'relieved' by changes to early release scheme
17-year-old Lily-May Vaughan was killed when the car she was a passenger in crashed in February 2023, with the driver sentenced last year for causing her death by dangerous driving
The mum of a Kidderminster teenager killed three years ago when the car she was a passenger in crashed has welcomed the government's changes to the early prisoner release scheme.
17-year-old Lily-May Vaughan died when the car she was travelling in came off an unnamed road near Shawbury Heath, Shropshire on 4 February 2023.
Driver of the vehicle Logan Addison, who was also Lily-May's boyfriend, was found guilty last year of causing her death by dangerous driving following a trial and was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
Lily-May's mum Leanne said she received a letter earlier this year which outlined how he could be let out as part of the early release scheme.
The Prime Minister had previously made changes to the plans by stopping people who had been sentenced for rape and serious child sexual offences being considered for it, but has now taken further steps to also block the likes of those who have caused death by dangerous driving.
"I was really relieved and grateful that the government had listened because initially when I heard that about the early release I was absolutely devastated," Leanne said.
"I couldn't understand why it would be fair that somebody who's already been sentenced is being released early.
"I can't help but feel that victims shouldn't have to fight for justice twice for the sentence they were originally given, it did seem really unfair that we've been through all of this, so I just hope that moving forward lessons can be learned about the victims and all of this."
To mark what would've been Lily-May's 21st birthday this week, LilyFest is set to be held on Saturday (5 September) in her memory and to raise funds for Road to Change CIC.
Leanne has been campaigning since her daughter's death for stronger laws for young drivers to keep them safe and said it's important young people's road safety remains a focus for this government.
"Let’s just prevent these deaths from happening in the first place," she said.
"I've got hope because I think the Prime Minister said that he deployed common sense to not releasing death by dangerous driver offenders early, so I'm hoping he can apply a common sense approach and see that allowing newly qualified drivers to carry passengers is just wrong."
The government announced in January this year its first road safety strategy in more than a decade, which will aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65%, along with 70% for children under 16, by 2035.
It isn't currently considering a limit on passengers for new young drivers, but has held a consultation on introducing a minimum learning period to give young people more time to build essential skills in varied conditions, such as driving at night, adverse weather and heavy traffic.