Family ‘shattered’ by tragedy launch petition ‘We have got a life sentence and he’s just walked away’

A family left devastated by the loss of a father and daughter killed in a crash have launched a petition in the hope of sparking a change in sentencing laws.

Valentino Coleman, 49, died with his daughter 21-year-old Olivia, also known as Liv, after a Mercedes Sprinter van ploughed into their stationary car, catapulting it into the pair on the A299 in Thanet in October 2017.

The driver, Canterbury shop owner Sivananthan Mathivathanan, avoided an immediate jail term and was instead handed a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years, and a three-year driving ban.

A jury had previously decided to clear Mathivathanan of dangerous driving charges. He admitted the lesser charge of careless driving.

Valentino - known as Tino - and Liv’s family say they feel “very dissatisfied” with the pun- ishment, and are calling for a change in sentencing guidelines for causing death by careless or dangerous driving.

John Sharp, Liv’s grandfather and Tino’s father-in-law, says his family “don’t feel that justice has been done”.

The 71-year-old, who lives in Wigmore in Gillingham, said: “For us, we have got a life sentence and he has walked away. There’s probably not a day in his life that has particularly changed, whereas for us, every day has been life-changing.

“What we have been through as a family for the last 15 months or so is just indescribable, and I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to have to go through what we’ve had to go through. As my daughter shouted out after the trial, he’s going home to his family.”

Mr Sharp says the family has been left shattered by the double tragedy, and hopes the petition will lead to firm changes and tougher sentences.

He added: “The impact on Liv’s sister Grace, who was at the accident as well, and the trauma she has had to go through as well in the aftermath of the accident, is a horrendous thing. With the petition, we certainly need to see the law changed and tougher sentencing, and the victims need to have some sort of say.”

The petition, which will run until the end of July, has already received backing from more than 1,900 people. It requires 10,000 for a government response, and 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament.

n It can be found at petition. parliament.uk/petitions/237732.