Drug-driver who killed schoolboy, 9, in horror hit-and-run crash as he walked home with his dad is jailed
A DRUG-driver who killed a nine-year-old boy in a horror hit-and-run as he walked home with his dad has been jailed.
Luke Widdop, 51, ploughed into George Lewis as he sped at 50mph in the 30mph zone in Sutton-in-Craven, North Yorkshire.
The schoolboy had been returning home from an event at a local cricket club with his dad Michael when the horror unfolded.
Tragically, dinosaur-mad George suffered unsurvivable injuries and was declared dead at the scene, while Michael was seriously wounded.
Widdop has now been jailed for eight years after he pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention and being unfit to drive through drugs.
In a victim impact statement, Matthew told how he suffered nightmare flashbacks and a “constant knot” over the death of his “kind and caring” son.
The dad added: “The simple act of walking home with my children on that night, when we were telling jokes, riddles, laughing, was cut short and his actions will live with me forever.”
Bradford Crown Court was told Widdop, 51, fled the scene following the September 2021 crash but later handed himself in.
He admitted smoking crack cocaine and taking heroin before getting behind the wheel of his van.
Widdop, who had also taken heroin and smoked cannabis, told police he was tired and wanted to get home “to put my feet up”.
He claimed he didn’t stop at the time because he thought he had hit a tree on the country lane.
Widdop, who has had more than 50 convictions including for driving offences since 1989, will be banned from the road for seven years when he is released from jail.
Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Rose said: “This case is an illustration of how the use of drugs can have tragic consequences not only for the user but for members of the general public, including children.
“You had been using cocaine, you had used heroin at some time but the clear evidence is but a few hours before George was killed you had used cocaine.
“You had it in your system and it undoubtedly affected your decision to drive when you made the deliberate choice to do so.”