Van driver jailed for eight years for smoking crack then killing boy in hit-and-run

A speeding driver who was high on crack cocaine when he killed a nine-year-old boy by running him over in his van has been jailed for eight years.

Luke Widdop, 51, smoked the class A drug before ploughing into three pedestrians on a country lane, then fled the scene in Sutton-in-Craven, North Yorkshire.

George Lewis was left fatally injured after he was thrown from the road and into a field by the hit-and-run at around 9pm on 17 September 2021.

His father Michael Lewis and another child, who cannot be named, were also left injured after being struck while walking along the road.

Police found Widdop smoked crack cocaine at some point before driving home in a work van and had traces of heroin in his system after his arrest.

He was travelling at 50mph along the winding road, that has a 30mph speed limit, later telling police he was “tired” after being at work and just wanted to “put his feet up”.

Mr Lewis was leading the two children and used his mobile phone torch to light the way and to warn oncoming drivers.

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When he realised a vehicle was coming towards them, he urged the schoolchildren to come in closer to a stone wall on the lane, which had no pavement.

George died from multiple injuries at the scene, while his father was left with a broken hand. The other child was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises.

After the collision, Widdop carried on driving home, but handed himself in to police soon after, telling officers he had drunk two cans of beer after he hit the trio.

He claimed not to have realised he had mowed down three people, but surrendered to police after seeing damage to the van and a police helicopter in the sky.

A mouth swab at the police station revealed he had taken cocaine and later tests showed he also used heroin – although the timing and amount could not be determined by experts.

Bradford Crown Court heard Widdop had a criminal record spanning more than 50 offences dating back to 1989 and had used heroin for 30 years.

Judge Jonathan Rose sentenced him today to eight years in prison after the defendant admitted causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs at a previous hearing.

Sentencing, the judge described George as someone who was gifted and could have made a success of anything he chose to do in life.

Addressing the defendant, he said that through his careless driving and drug taking he “took away such future as he had”.

He added: “It is quite clear from your previous court appearances and your offending, including speeding and driving while under the influence, have taught you nothing about the dangers you pose to other road users and pedestrians.”

Describing how Mr Lewis tried to get the youngsters to stand by a wall moments before the impact, Judge Rose said: “Sadly, that was not enough to save them. You struck each of them in turn.”

‘Clever, happy boy’

A victim statement on behalf of Mr Lewis described his son as a clever, happy boy who enjoyed learning, loved dinosaurs and wanted to become a palaeontologist, his father said.

Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, read a statement from the boy’s paternal grandmother, whose name was not given in court, which said: “Grief is such a small word for such a huge amount of pain. We loved him so much.”

After the sentencing hearing, Judge Rose told George’s family in court that although he did not know the little boy, hearing about him had had a “very powerful impact” on him.

Detective Constable Mark Turner, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said outside court: “I hope today’s sentence sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get behind the wheel whilst unfit through drink or drugs.”

Dairy worker Widdop, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, was also banned from driving for seven years.

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