Disqualified Driver Appeals Against Sentence for Deadly Lincolnshire Crash
A disqualified driver from Lincolnshire who was handed an eight-year, three-month prison sentence, after a fatal hit-and-run incident, has indicated he will be appealing against the sanction. Shane Kelk, 28 and homeless, was found guilty of causing the death of Amelia Cooper, 20, who was also nicknamed Amy, following an accident in Holbeach St Johns.
The incident, transpired on November 13, 2022. Kelk's vehicle, whilst overtaking another, collided with the motorbike that Cooper was riding. Instead of aiding Cooper, who was critically injured, Kelk apologized at the scene but subsequently fled to a local farm to contact his girlfriend for assistance.
Arrest and Sentencing
Kelk moved between addresses in Holbeach and Peterborough, where the police eventually arrested him while attempting to clamber over a wall. Cooper, sadly, succumbed to severe pelvic and abdominal injuries on November 14, 2022.
At the court proceedings, Kelk admitted to a raft of charges related to the incident. He confessed to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while driving disqualified, failing to stop following the accident, as well as failing to report the incident. Further charges included driving without insurance and possession of cannabis resin. The sentencing at Lincoln Crown Court took place on February 3, 2023. Kelk received eight years and three months imprisonment and faces an eight-year, six-month driving ban pending a successful completion of an extended driving test.
Amy’s Family in 'Indescribable Pain'
The sentencing brought no comfort to the victim's family. They expressed their 'indescribable pain' at losing Amy, who was left unattended in dire conditions to perish. They spoke out in Lincoln Crown Court in February 2023, expressing their agony at the needless loss.
Justice for Victims
In the wake of this tragedy, RoadPeace, a national charity for road crash victims, has taken up the cause of seeking justice for victims of road accidents and their families. This incident has acted as a catalyst for the charity to campaign for stricter penalties for dangerous drivers.
Appeal Proceedings
Kelk is scheduled to present his appeal against the sentence at the Court of Appeal in London on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.