An uninsured hit-and-run learner driver today admitted killing a seven-year-old Wolverhampton boy while at the wheel of a car which did not belong to him.
Tragic Keilyn Kerr died in front of his father Darren and his grandmother as he crossed the road just yards from her front door in Childs Avenue, Woodcross.
Forklift truck driver Martin Clifford, aged 42, is facing jail after pleading guilty to causing the schoolboy’s death by aggravated vehicle taking.
The youngster, from Woodcross Lane, was a pupil at Hurst Hill Primary School in Coseley and had four brothers.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard today how Clifford, of Dartmouth Crescent on The Lunt estate, was driving a Renault Megane belonging to his girlfriend when he collided with Keilyn.
Clifford also pleaded guilty to using the car without insurance, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and not driving in accordance with his provisional licence.
Judge Robin Onions said: “The little boy stepped off the kerb behind a parked car and so the defendant did not see him. He crouched down and it is the most tragic and awful accident.”
The accident happened at 5pm on October 1 last year.
Miss Sarah-Jayne Buckingham, defending, said: “Mr Clifford accepts he did not have the consent of his partner at the time. There is no suggestion that anything to do with the way he was driving caused the accident. He accepts that he panicked but within half an hour he went to the police station. He is guilt-ridden.”
Keilyn’s mother Debbie Simcox has opened her heart about her loss.
She described her son as a happy, popular and boisterous child who loved collecting football cards and playing computer games. “You aren’t meant to bury your kids,” she added.
Clifford has been given an interim driving ban and unconditionally bailed. He will be sentenced on May 22.
7 Comments
Lee hughes (West Brom Player) got 5 years for something similar. anything less than 5 years here would be a disgrace!!!
Report abuse
throw the book at him he should be done for murder
Report abuse
i dont think he should have been allowed bail he should get at least 10 years my heart goes out to keilyns parents they have been given alife sentence
Report abuse
My family have known Martin for years, he will be devastated at this tragic accident. But that is exactly what it is. The fact that he does not have a licence is incidental and anyone in the same position would be facing their worst nightmare and may well panic enough to run away.
A custodial sentence will not achieve he will still have to live with this till the day he dies.
Report abuse
Not having a licence meant that Martin was breaking the law from the moment he took the vehicle and is far from incidental, it makes the fact that he killed even worse. Martin has robbed a family of a life time of memories and left them with only pain. Darren watched his son die a painful, horrible death to say that Martin should not recieve a custodial sentence is an insult to the Kerr family. He should lose his freedom and be made to spend time with Darren and Keilyns 4 brothers to witness first hand the impact his reckless actions have had on so many lives.
Report abuse
I think this man should of gone down longer.This is not right.He should of at least gone down for 10years.I am so sad that This man killed my cousin and will never forgive him for this.I loved him so much and he didnt deserve to die.
Report abuse
I am one of keilyn’s grandmothers i was disgusted with the sentence and even more that he appeal’d against it and was let out to day 13/9/07 which is just over two weeks before the first anniversary of his death and only after serving 4 months which is not even a month for every year he was a live Darren and my Daughter Natalie cant even appeal against the appeal my personal oppinion is our justice system is a Ass criminal’s get better treatment than the people that suffer from the things that they do. They dont even have to suffer in prison thats if they go they get 3 square meals central heating tv and no bills to pay i whish i could go my self and specially to a open one it would be like going on holiday.
Report abuse