‘Giving him four years and knowing he will do half is an insult’
THE family of a greatgreat-grandmother killed by a banned driver who had taken drugs have called for his sentence to be increased.
Tydfil Jenkins’ daughter Hayley Morgan said the four-year jail sentence handed down to Alan Davies – who had previously appeared in court 55 times in connection with motoring offences – placed “no value on her life” and would be “no deterrent” to other offenders.
She has formally asked the Crown Prosecution Service to approach Attorney General Jeremy Wright with a request to review the sentence, which they believe is unduly lenient. The maximum prison sentence for causing death by careless driving under the influence of drugs is 14 years.
Hayley, 53, from Maesteg, and her family would also like to see Davies’ driving ban of seven years extended to life.
“I feel like I can’t just sit back and do nothing. My mother deserves better,” she said. “The judge said that no matter what he got it would never bring her back, but giving him four years and knowing he will do half, it’s just an insult.”
A CPS spokesman said: “We have spoken with Mrs Jenkins’ family in relation to this issue and we will be contacting them again in due course. In the meantime it would be inappropriate to comment further. Our sympathy continues to remain with the family at this difficult time.”
Tydfil, who was 80, was knocked down by a Renault Clio driven by Davies, 35, in Bethania Street, Maesteg, at about 5pm on January 10.
The generous bingo fan, known by everyone as Tyd, had just delivered a cake to a friend. Cardiff Crown Court heard other people on the street saw Tydfil from a good distance away and one driver slowed to 10mph when he saw her walking with a stick.
Another witness, Philip Evans, said he did not see Davies, who is from Caerau Road, Maesteg, brake or swerve until after the collision. Davies’ passenger told the court they had been driving at between 25 and 30mph but Davies told police he hadn’t seen her and didn’t have a chance to stop.
He also admitted he had taken cocaine the previous day and a police officer noted his speech was slurred and he seemed “blasé” about the incident.
The court heard Davies had 32 convictions for 96 offences, including 55 driving offences and driving while disqualified.
Stacey Morgan, 28, one of Tydfil’s seven grandchildren – she also has 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren – said the death of the loving, strong and fun lady has changed the family for ever.
Her cousin Louise Forte, also 28, said Tyd had been a rock when her mother and Tyd’s daughter Wendy Wines, 45, had died following a long period of ill health.
“She put her own grief aside to look after us,” she said.