Wirral man jailed for causing the death of a teenager by dangerous driving
Leo Meek from Moreton has been handed 40 months behind bars and a three year driving ban
Last updated 23rd Aug 2021
A man from the Wirral has been jailed for causing the death of a 15-year-old boy by dangerous driving.
Leo Meek, 22, of West Way, Moreton, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.
He was sentenced to 40 months at Liverpool Crown Court today (Monday 23 August).
He was further disqualified from driving for three years following his release.
At around 9.40pm on Monday 26 April, emergency services were called to Manor Drive following a collision between a vehicle and a cyclist. The car failed to stop at the scene.
The cyclist, 15-year-old Jack Jones, was taken to hospital where he sadly died as a result of his injuries.
Following police enquiries, Meek was identified as the driver of the vehicle, arrested and later charged.
A 48-year-old man from Birkenhead was also arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following the incident. He was released under investigation.
“a nightmare you cannot wake up from"
Jack's Mum, Marjorie said that he hoped to become a mechanical engineer, “had his whole life ahead of him” but now “all our hopes and aspirations for Jack have just gone. His life was gone in a single moment for reasons we don’t understand.
She said Jacks’ death was “a nightmare you cannot wake up from and know you will have for a lifetime…no words will ever be enough to express how much this hurts and what a huge loss we all have to come to terms with.
Thanking the neighbours who had helped Jack on the night of the incident, she said: “The small comfort we have from that night is knowing he was not alone, that residents on Manor Drive heard the impact and came to help and offer comfort to Jack whilst waiting for the ambulance and people in their cars stopped traffic.
“We would also like to thank the paramedics who got Jack to the hospital so quickly, the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital who made him as comfortable as he could be and did all they could to save his life, and to Merseyside Police for all their support.”
Jack’s uncle, Jamie, described Jack as a “selfless, humble and empathetic young man” who “will always be with us in our thoughts and our hearts.” He said that Meek’s actions had left “an emotional black hole and an unforgivable sense of loss…I sincerely hope in the future Meek will be genuinely ashamed and fully remorseful of his actions during and following that fateful evening.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Drew said:
“No sentence can repair the devastation of what happened but we hope that today's sentencing can at least provide some comfort to Jack’s family and friends.
“I hope Meek’s sentence gives him time to reflect on the consequences of his actions.
"I would also like to pay tribute to Jack’s family for the courage and dignity they have shown throughout this process, and also to the team of officers who brought Meek to justice so swiftly.
“At Merseyside Police our priority is to keep our communities safe and to prosecute any driver who puts the lives of others at risk. Every fatal collision impacts upon the lives of so many people, and we’re committed to reducing such incidents and putting those who drive dangerously before the courts.”
We also work with Aftermath, a registered charity providing immediate and expert support for all those involved in road traffic collisions. More details can be found here: https://www.aftermathsupport.org.uk/
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