Mum of girl, 10, killed by man high on coke slams scheme to reform drug drivers

25 November 2023 , 19:35

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Lily Lockwood was killed by a driver under the influence of cocaine (Image: Kent Police / SWNS)

The mum of a girl killed by a man high on cocaine has slammed a new scheme aiming to reform convicted drug-drivers.

Gavin Prodger, 50, got 12 years last month for mowing down Lily Lockwood, 10, as she crossed a road. And Lily’s mum Nicola Waters was furious to learn drug-drivers could be able to go on a publicly funded educational course that may even earn them a lower insurance premium when they are allowed to drive again.

Nicola said: “It’s a joke. It makes me very angry. It feels like a let-off. It’s another example of those in the wrong being rewarded and victims being forgotten. We feel like we’re serving a life sentence for what he did.

“Yet people convicted of drug-driving could be given a course to make them feel better about what they did. Anybody who gets in a car under the influence knows what they are doing. Why do they need a course like this?”

Gavin Prodger got 12 years last month (Kent Police / SWNS)

Nicola Waters was furious to learn drug-drivers could be able to go on a publicly funded educational course

Prodger, of Rochester, Kent, hit Lily at 47mph in a 30mph zone in Dartford in 2021. The taxi driver admitted causing death by careless driving while over the limit for cocaine and benzoylecgonine, and possession of cocaine. He must serve a minimum eight years of his 12-year sentence and was banned from driving until 2040.

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The course for drug-drivers, similar to those for drink-drivers, starts a pilot run next year in Teesside. It will signpost offenders to services that aid recovery from drug-taking habits. And a deal with insurers could mean a reduction on any future premium.

Nicola, of Dartford, added: “Will the people behind this be speaking to the victims for their thoughts? There should be harsher penalties, not courses. It sends out totally the wrong message.”

Former Met detective Peter Bleksley said: “I can’t see huge benefits. More needs to be done to focus on the impact of the crime rather than offer essentially rewards for a course.”

Tory MP Nigel Mills said: “It has probably come from well-meaning people but I can’t see why this is needed. It sounds like a gimmick.” Promoting the scheme, Chief Superintendent Paul Waugh, of Cleveland Police, said it “will help divert people away from drugs”.

Isaac Crowson