Driver sentenced for killing boy, 13, and fleeing

A teenage driver who killed a 13-year-old boy has been detained for six years and nine months.

Kaylan Hippsley died three days after being hit by a car driven by Harley Whiteman on Brecon Road, Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 29 February.

Whiteman, 19, was intoxicated at the time of the crash and fled the scene afterwards, before returning and behaving abusively as he was arrested.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins said Whiteman’s "flagrant and callous disregard for the rules of the road" led to Kaylan’s death, and his subsequent behaviour had been "abhorrent and heartless".

The sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Tuesday was shown CCTV footage of Whiteman "travelling at speed" through the village, narrowly avoiding hitting other vehicles before the collision.

He had been drinking and taking cocaine, before driving with two friends around Aberdare and Hirwaun.

Shortly before the fatal crash at about 18:15 GMT, Whiteman's Ford Fiesta was seen driving erratically through the centre of Hirwaun on a 20mph road with parked cars.

Kaylan was walking with three friends towards the local youth centre and had gone slightly ahead of them.

The court heard how Whiteman swerved to avoid hitting another car, which caused him to mount the kerb and hit Kaylan, throwing him into the air.

Julia Cox, prosecuting, said: "After hitting Kaylan, Whiteman drove off at speed with significant damage to his car."

Kaylan was treated at the scene by members of the public, including a student nurse, but died three days later in hospital.

Whiteman returned to the scene and began shouting at those who were trying to help Kaylan.

He was described as "belligerent" when later arrested at the scene by officers and refused to give breath and blood samples at the police station.

"He didn’t show any remorse for his actions," said Ms Cox.

Whiteman gave a no comment police interview, but later told a probation officer he had taken a line of cocaine and drunk four pints of lager before the crash.

Kaylan’s sister told the court of the "sheer horror" her brother’s death had caused their family.

"No real justice can be served today," she said.

"We live in fear that one day we have to pass Kaylan’s killer in the street."

Kaylan’s grandmother, Kay, with whom he had been living, added she was yet to return to the house because of her grief and was now staying with a relative.

"You’ve not only taken my grandson Kaylan from me, but ruined a multitude of lives," she said.

"I will never recover from this, and I cannot find it in my heart to forgive Mr Whiteman."

Statements from Kaylan’s family members, school and rugby team described him as a "cheeky chappie" and a "polite, courteous" boy.

James Hartson, defending, conceded Whiteman behaved "appallingly" in the aftermath of the crash, but said it was "wholly out of character" for him.

Subsequent reports, he said, had found a low risk of reoffending and that "his remorse appears to be genuine".

Judge Jenkins said Whiteman had been driving at a "wholly inappropriate" speed.

"You were aggressive, unruly and totally unrepentant [when arrested] and carried that attitude to the police station," he said.

He added there was "no doubt" tests would have shown him to be "clearly intoxicated".

Whiteman, who had pleaded guilty earlier this month, was sentenced to six years and nine months in a young offenders' institute.

He will serve at least half his sentence before being release on licence.

He was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months and will need to pass an extended test to regain his licence.