A grieving mother has condemned the Scottish justice system that failed to jail the hit-and-run driver who killed her teenage son.
Amanda McIlquham says 15-year-old Steven's death has destroyed her family, while his killer walk free from court because he was under 25.
The schoolboy was crossing a road in his home town of Wishaw on New Year's Day 2020 when Brian Buchanan knocked him down and fled.
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The 22-year-old was doing 45mph in the 30 zone and the impact caused Steven to hit the windscreen before going over the top of the Volkswagen Golf. He died at the scene.
Buchanan pled guilty to causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at Hamilton Sheriff Court earlier this week.
Sheriff Martin Jones said he was restricted by current sentencing guidelines for under 25s that say courts should only impose custodial sentences when they are satisfied no other sentence is appropriate.
Despite Buchanan's previous motoring offences for careless driving and speeding, he was handed a three year driving ban, ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work and tagged for six months, he will also have to resit and extended driving test before he is allowed back behind the wheel at the end of his ban.
Speaking to the BBC, Amanda said she was stunned when she learned he wouldn't spend time behind bars.
She said: "I just get up every day and try my best to be mum to his sister Erin. I don't want to be miserable every day but I feel - why my son when he had so much to live for and he was such a happy go lucky wee boy?
"He never saw his 16th, he never saw his 18th and that kills me for him to not have that life. He was such a blessing. My life's ruined, his sister's life is ruined, the whole family's lives are ruined. He didn't deserve this and the justice system failed him.
"No one had said he wouldn't go to jail. I thought he would go to jail. I don't understand it. I know he is a young lad but he drove away. He knocked my boy down and drove away. He knew what he had done.
"I am disgusted with the Scottish law. Does my boy's life not count? It sends out the wrong signals to anybody under 25. Just go out, do what you want and you will get away with it because they don't want to put anybody in jail.
"He belongs behind bars. He has still got his whole life. It's all wrong and justice was not served."
Sentencing guidelines were approved by the High Court earlier this year, a Scottish Sentencing Council spokeswoman explained: "Academic research shows that a young person will generally have a lower level of maturity, and a greater capacity for change and rehabilitation, than an older person.
"Based on this research, the Sentencing Young People guideline focuses on rehabilitation as a primary consideration in sentencing. Rehabilitation helps to reduce reoffending, preventing there being victims in the future.
"Sentencing guidelines are not straitjackets and each independent judge or sheriff will decide on a sentence based on the unique circumstances of a particular case.
"The full range of sentencing options, including imprisonment or detention, remains open to the court."
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