A heartbroken mum has described the prison sentence handed to her daughter's killer as an "insult". Chloe Hayman, 17, died while travelling in a car crashed by Keilan Roberts, who was over the alcohol limit and had taken cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
Chloe from Mountain Ash suffered fatal injuries as Roberts drove his Skoda Octavia into a stone wall and cattle grid in the early hours of July 24 last year on Pontlottyn Road in Fochriw, Caerphilly county. Roberts was uninjured.
Judge David Wynn Morgan sentenced Roberts, 22, to three years and nine months in prison after he admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the limit of controlled drugs and alcohol. Speaking after the sentencing, Chloe's mother Danielle told journalists: "Since losing Chloe, our lives have been torn apart. Chloe was a kind, loving, beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Chloe was the most loving and funny young girl with a fierce loyalty to all those she loved. At only 17 she was just starting to enjoy living life to the full as all teenagers do.
"It is with a very heavy heart we will never see our daughter grow up and achieve all of her hopes and dreams and that her three younger brothers will never again have the fierce love from her as a protective big sister. Knowing that we will never see her or speak to her again is an unbearable pain. The sentencing feels like an insult to us as a family. Chloe's life was taken at the hands of someone who made a stupid decision to drive when they were in no fit state to do so.
"No family should ever have to experience what we have experienced and the heartache and sadness we feel as we navigate our way through life since the loss of Chloe. The loss of our Chloe will hopefully spread the message to the younger generations of today to prevent another stupid decision to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and to prevent another family losing an innocent life."
Roberts, of Maes-y-Haf in Rhymney, was given a 10-year driving ban as well as the jail term. The judge acknowledged the sentence may "seem inadequate" but said it was in line with sentencing guidelines. You can read our full report from the sentencing, and the powerful words that Chloe's mother addressed to her daughter's killer, here.
READ NEXT:
Pensioner used magnet to steal clothes, food and booze from M&S and couldn't explain why
Driver on wrong side of busy city centre road speeds through red lights and smashes into car
Man who never passed driving test caught drunk behind wheel on wrong side of major road
Cannabis-dealing couple who made nearly £100,000 ordered to pay back fraction of earnings
