Unlicensed Wigan driver who killed teenager has jail sentence increased
Liam Wilson was uninsured and had never passed a driving test
Last updated 27th Nov 2020
An unlicensed driver from Wigan who drove at almost three times over the speed limit and killed a teenager has had his sentence increased.
Liam Wilson aged 21 of Livingstone Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield has been sentenced to five years in prison at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Wilson fled the scene without attempting to help.
The sentence has been increased by one year from the four years in prison originally imposed at Bolton Crown Court in September 2020 after Wilson pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
His disqualification from driving has also been increased from five years and ten months to six years and six months.
He was uninsured and had never passed a driving test
Wilson was driving a silver Jaguar X Type at approximately 58 miles per hour on a 20 miles per hour stretch of road on Old Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield at around 4.30pm on Tuesday July 7th 2020.
He lost control and mounted the nearside pavement where 13-year-old Jack Marcus Worwood was walking.
The teenager was on his way to play football and was struck by Wilson, sustaining serious injuries.
Sadly he died as a result of those injuries the following day.
The Attorney General's Office referred the sentence as being unduly lenient.
At a hearing in London Lord Justice Haddon-Cave - sitting with Mrs Justice Cutts and Mr Justice Foxton - said: In our judgment, the minimum sentence which should have been passed in this case was one of five years' imprisonment.''
The Court of Appeal heard Wilson had around 90 metres to apply emergency braking, which a collision investigator said could have saved Jack's life''.
Deanna Heer, representing Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC, told the court: The offender made a deliberate decision to increase his speed when he turned on to Old Road and he knew that he was approaching a bend with a restricted view.
He was familiar with the road and his driving was made more dangerous by his decision to do so despite the wet conditions and his failure to apply emergency braking.''
What was his defence?
The court heard Wilson told the author of a pre-sentence report that he had increased his speed because he thought he was being pursued by a police officer''.
Neil Ronan, representing Wilson, referred to the harrowing nature of his upbringing'' and the fact that his heroin addict mother died while he was in custody, adding that Wilson had displayedgenuine remorse''.
He said: He will revisit this for the rest of his life.''
The judge's decision
Increasing Wilson's sentence, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said: Jack Worwood was walking innocently along the pavement near to his home when he was struck by this car and subsequently died tragically as a result.''
The judge said it was relevant that Liam Wilson made off without seeking to help the deceased and in an effort to avoid apprehension, and then made a determined effort to avoid capture''.
He added Wilson had admitted he took the decision to drive the car because it was raining'', despite not having a licence and the fact the car did not have an MOT.
"No sentence can repair the damage"
In a statement after the hearing, Solicitor General Mr Ellis said: Wilson's dangerous driving killed an innocent young boy who was on his way to play football.
He fled the scene after the crash and showed little remorse.
No sentence can repair the damage Wilson caused, but I hope the Court of Appeal's decision today gives some closure to the victim's family.''