A drunken drug-fuelled driver who was on his mobile phone killed a six-year-old girl as she walked home with her dad.
John Owen, 46, killed six-year-old Sharlotte-Sky Naglis not far from her home in Norton Green, Stoke-on-Trent, in June last year.
She was making her way home from the shop with her dad Kris when Owen drove into them, killing the primary school pupil instantly. Owen, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle and had to be taken to hospital.
READ MORE : 'Gorgeous' mum mauled to death by American bulldogs named locally
Blood tests later revealed he was nearly twice over the drink-drive limit and had cocaine in his system, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
Owen appeared at Stoke-on-Trent crown court to be sentenced over the dangerous driving death of Sharlotte-Sky Naglis. The court heard Owen had been drinking throughout the day.
Prosecutor Philip Vollans said: "The defendant was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and was travelling over the speed limit in a 30mph zone and there is evidence indicating he was using a mobile phone at the time, or just before.
"He drove his Skoda at speed and approached the bend at a dangerous speed. The impact speed was 48mph.
"As a consequence of the levels of intoxication through drink and drugs it had a substantial effect on his ability to control the vehicle."
Owen was interviewed on November 8 and gave a prepared statement in which apologised for Sharlotte's death, but said he had no recollection of the crash because of his brain injury.
Sharlotte's devastated mum, Claire Reynolds, read a victim impact statement to the court, in which she said she knew Sharlotte "had been meant to go far in this world".
She added: "It's impossible to truly describe how one person's actions have affected the rest of mine and the children's lives.
"Nothing will never be the same: getting excited, looking forward to family times, feeling complete, feeling no pain ... waking up with a smile ... these things have all gone.
"All I had with Sharlotte was six wonderful years. No parent should ever lose their child, especially when their child is taken away so cruelly, at such a young age and with so many dreams and so much life ahead of her.
"We've lost more than anybody can even begin to imagine."
She added: "Sharlotte missed out on so much due to Covid-19, she would always ask how long this virus is going to be around for as she missed her friends and school. We had so many plans for when the virus went but she will never be able to do any of them.
"Sharlotte was full of energy and full of life, she never kept still and always wanted to do something or learn something more."
Ms Reynolds, 37, described her daughter as "loving, caring, brave, thoughtful, clever and full of energy," adding: "She had just started swimming lessons, and every time she swam to the end of the pool, she’d give me thumbs up with a massive grin because she made it across.
"One time she smiled at me and made her fingers into a love heart for me. I love her so much and miss everything about her. There will never be another Sharlotte."
A statement from Mr Naglis, Sharlotte's dad, was read to the court by prosecutor Mr Vollans.
Mr Naglis described Sharlotte as his "beautiful angel" and said his life had become hell with nothing left to fight for.
He said: "Nothing can bring happiness. I wake up crying and have panic attacks. The question is why this happened and why would someone drive so fast with so many kids around?
"Was he so careless that he was thinking just about himself and nobody else? I do not understand.
"Nothing will bring back my daughter."
The court also heard from Sarah Sheldon, mum of Sharlotte's best friend William. She described the impact Sharlotte's friend had had on her little boy.
She said: "He didn’t understand that Sharlotte was never coming back. He knew what death meant because he had lost several grandparents but he didn’t realise that children could die.
"He thought only elderly or ill people died, and Sharlotte was neither."
She said: "My son and Sharlotte's young friends have had to face up to issues no five and six-year-olds should have to deal with", adding: "We will feel the grief and sadness for the rest of our lives."
The court heard Angela Reynolds, Sharlotte's 'nanny', say: "My life has changed forever since Sharlotte was taken away from me. My heart is split in two. There is not a day I do not cry."
Mr Vollans said the offending was in the highest category of the sentencing guidelines, with a starting point of eight years and a range of seven to 14 years.
Simon Blakebrough, mitigating, conceded Owen would receive a significant custodial sentence. He said the consequences of Owen's actions were "catastrophic" and the harm caused "could not have been any higher".
Mr Blakebrough said: "He lost control of his vehicle at a bend."
He said the phone was on, but the evidence suggests Owen received a call.
Mr Blakebrough conceded Owen has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 1998 but he said the age of the conviction meant it should not be treated as an aggravated feature.
He added Owen suffered a traumatic brain injury, was in a coma for several weeks, suffered two fractures to his vertebrae and ankle and dislocated his toe.
The defence barrister said Owen had not been able to work since the crash, and had stopped drinking for good. He said Owen had been described as a "good father to his two daughters" and as having "a heart of gold".
Mr Blakebrough added: "He has to live with the consequences of this for the rest of his life. He is deeply ashamed of his actions and through me he wants to apologise to the wider audience for what he has done."
Judge Paul Glenn said Owen's previous conviction was relevant. He said: "This is a bad case of its type.
"You killed an innocent six-year-old child by driving at excessive speed, 48mph in a 30mph limit shortly before the collision. You lost control of your car while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. In each case, close to double the proscribed limit.
"Sharlotte had been to the shop with her dad, walking properly on the pavement when you mounted the kerb and struck her.
"Death, mercifully, would have been instantaneous. Her father was also struck."
Judge Glenn said it was a "sad and tragic case".
He said: "The sense of loss could not possibly be overstated and no sentence the court can impose will even begin to compensate for the loss of such a wonderful child. I hope those who are present will accept my deepest sympathy and treasure their memories of the child.
"You chose to drive when you must have known you had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and a class A drug, cocaine, both substances at almost double the legal limit. You were an accident waiting to happen."
Judge Glenn jailed Owen for six years and two months. He disqualified him from driving for five years and until he passes an extended test.
The ban will be extended by three years and one month to account for the time Owen will spend in jail.
READ NEXT :
Man arrested and five American bulldogs destroyed after woman mauled to death
Tributes to 'lovely' woman killed in horrific dog attack
Second Adelphi Hotel investigation after guest injured
What happens now as Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder trial looms
Urgent Primark warning as baby items pulled over safety fears
