Grieving parents want law changed Our lad, 15, was killed by teacher’s minibus but police can’t arrest him

THE parents of a teenager killed by a school minibus are demanding a law change after a teacher driving the vehicle walked free.

Ashley Talbot, 15, died instantly when he was knocked down in the school car park as he dashed for home at the end of lessons.

A police probe established PE teacher Christopher Brooks was driving at between 14 and 17mph – despite signs advising vehicles not to exceed 5mph.

Ashley’s mum Melanie, 45, and dad John, 38, were stunned to learn Mr Brooks, in his 30s, would not face charges because the speed limit is not enforceable on private property.

The parents believe he could have been charged if the incident had occurred on the public road – just yards away.

They are now calling for 5mph limits to be enforced by law in all school grounds.

Melanie, who is battling cancer, said: “Life is barely worth living. Every night, I close my eyes and I see my son’s bloodied face lying on a mortuary slab.

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“It’s so hard to cope because Ashley’s death could have been prevented so easily. I was shocked to hear the teacher had exceeded the advised speed limit by so much when there are so many children around.

“If he’d stuck to five miles per hour, I strongly feel he’d have had time to see Ashley and to react and Ashley would have seen him. But police and the Crown Prosecution Service told us there was nothing they could do as the speed limit within schools is only advisory.

“I’m not sure if I will beat cancer but I am determined to fight for a law change with everything I have until my dying day. I don’t want another mum living through this hell.”

Ashley died in December 2014 and was buried in Port Talbot, South Wales – surrounded by his unopened Christmas gifts. Melanie is making plans to be buried with her son in preparation for her own death.

She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer days before an inquest ruled the crash at Maesteg Comprehensive was an accident.

PC Christopher Street told the hearing there was no evidence to suggest Mr Brooks’ driving had been unsafe. He said the teacher’s view was blocked as Ashley emerged and the lad might still have been run over at 5mph.

But his parents strongly believe he would have stood a chance of survival had he been hit at a slower speed.

Mr Brooks was cleared by cops but a health and safety probe is ongoing. Melanie added: “I couldn’t go to the inquest because I don’t think I could face the man who took my son away from me. He was in front of me at Asda once and my friend had to take me outside because it was too painful to see him doing normal things and getting on with his life.

“People might think it’s an accident but if he had driven at an appropriate speed for a school car park, I would still have my boy.

“Instead, I have to make do with visiting in a graveyard while his friends pass their driving tests and head off to college and university.”

Tearful Melanie, also mum to Natasha, 20, had dropped her son at the bus stop on the morning of his death. She offered to pick him up after school but he wanted to get the bus home with his friends.

Melanie recalled: “He was a very affectionate boy and didn’t mind giving me a hug and a kiss in front of his friends.

Panicked

“He told me he loved me and gave me the thumbs up as he ran to the bus in the morning. That was the last time I saw him.”

Later that day she received a phone call from a panicked receptionist.

Melanie went on: “When they told me it