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Injured Toddler?s Family Welcome Sentencing Change for Dangerous Drivers
23 December 2009
The parents of injured toddler, Cerys Edwards, are today celebrating a change in the law as a result of their tireless campaigning on behalf of their daughter.
One-year-old Cerys Edwards was left paralysed, brain damaged and dependent on a ventilator after a collision with a speeding car driven by millionaire’s son, Antonio Boparan in November 2006.
Boparan, who was 19 at the time, was travelling at more than 70mph on the wrong side of the 30mph Streetly Lane in Sutton Coldfield when he lost control of his mother’s high powered Range Rover Sport and ploughed head-on into the Edwards’ car.
Despite the severity of Cerys’ injuries, the maximum sentence for dangerous driving was only two years in prison. Boparan was jailed for 21 months and served just six months of his sentence.
The Edwards family mounted a campaign to have the sentencing law changed and presented a 13,000 signature petition to Downing Street in July this year.
Reacting to the news that the maximum sentence is to be increased to five years, Gareth Edwards, father of injured toddler Cerys, said: “Obviously we are delighted that the law has been changed but we will always wish that we, and our daughter, had not had to suffer, and go to hell back, as we have. We will always feel that Boparan got off lightly for what he did to Cerys.
“We hope that the change in law and the tougher sentencing will make people think twice about driving dangerously and prevent other people from being hurt. And anyone who is convicted will know they will face real justice.
“It’s taken 18 months but we finally got there. I always said I’d get this law changed and now we have. It’s Cerys’ law.”
The Edwards’ solicitor, Richard Langton of Russell Jones & Walker, who has campaigned for change alongside Cerys’ parents, commented: “This is a fantastic result for the Edwards family. Judges have complained for years that their sentencing powers are limited when dangerous drivers cause devastating injuries. Nobody listened to the judges, but a family’s crusade has got the message across. Increased awareness of how tough the Courts can be on bad drivers who devastate lives, will act as a deterrent. Drivers must realise that speeding ruins lives.
“On behalf of Gareth and Tracey, I would like to thank all those who have supported the campaign by visiting the Cerys Edwards website and writing to their own MPs and to the 13,000 people who took the time to sign the petition.”
For more information, or to book a telephone interview with Gareth Edwards or Richard Langton, please contact:
rjw@lucrecommunications.com o113 243 1117
Sarah Giangregorio – 07515054212
Eloise Garrett -0779294 7441
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