The Attorney General’s Office is looking into whether the sentence passed down to dangerous driver Owen Chambers was unduly lenient.
18-year-old Chambers, of Mountbatten Drive in Newport, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court last week for the offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.
He was previously told by a Judge that he should expect to receive a custodial sentence, but at last Thursday’s hearing, he was handed a 2-year sentence, suspended for 2 years. This has sparked anger amongst the local community and a referral to the Attorney General’s Office.
It was on 25th February last year that Chambers crashed whilst driving along the main Whitwell to Ventnor road, as previously reported by Island Echo. His Mini One smashed into a Volkswagen Golf, injuring the 2 occupants inside – including a 9-year-old boy. Chambers didn’t offer any assistance to the injured parties, instead deciding to flee the scene.
The 18-year-old later denied being the driver, blaming it on his passenger. But his lies unravelled when video evidence capturing an admission came to light, which led to a secondary charge of perverting the course of justice.
The mother of the young boy injured in the smash said, in a victim impact statement, that she has not been able to un-see or un-hear what happened and how she can vividly remember the screams of her young son as Chambers’ vehicle ploughed toward them.
Mr Recorder McElduff said in his sentencing remarks that the incident was traumatic for the victims and that Chambers was extremely lucky no one was killed. Despite this, Record McElduff handed down a suspended sentence – stating that Chambers’ age was a consideration in passing sentence.
Owen Chambers was handed a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years. He was also banned from driving for 3 years and ordered to take an extended retest. A total of 200 hours unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days were attached to the suspended sentence order.
The outcome of the case has upset the victims and led to the local community questioning whether it was right for Chambers to receive a suspended sentence.
It has been confirmed that the sentence has been referred to the Attorney General for consideration as an unduly lenient sentence.
The news comes less than 2 weeks after the sentencing of paedophile Samuel Huckle, who also received a suspended sentence. His sentence has also been referred to the Attorney General following Island Echo’s coverage of the story.
Still blame the mother for giving birth to it
she didn’t raise him
Law and Order on the island is a joke.
Day in day out vehicles are allowed to speed
IT IS OBVIOUS WE CANNOT TRUST NUMPTY DRIVERS
TO STICK WITHIN THE RULES
So now is the time for the so called authorities to
make our roads a safe place.
Speed Camera’s, speed humps etc need putting
in place so motorists cannot speed.
Prevention is better than cure, something the
Island authorities don’t seem to understand!
I have been going on for ages about how UNSAFE
Island Roads are, does someone have to die
before the Island do something about it!!
With motorbikes kids are restricted on power due to age and inexperience. Why not cars? It could be a good idea if the only car a newly qualified driver had a max speed of 30mph. That way, a crash that happens in those road conditions has less chance of being fatal. One thing the test can’t give anyone is experience. Jail time certainly can’t.
One problem no NUMPTY sticks to the
Speed limit.
I have never seen a place with so many
Uneducated Numpty’s driving around.
20mph is plenty, anyone breaking the limit
Ban them and crush their vehicle
“THEY WON’T SPEED AGAIN!!”
You really are a numpty ain’t ya.
Smug little p**ck
not only did he ruin a kids life and there family with the crash, he was going to let his own friend take the wrap for it.
what a nasty young man
Yes, this clearly wrong. The judge may have used his age as an excuse, but his lack of care or compassion for his victims or his friend show us what a nasty piece of work he’s growing into. A few months behind bars might have changed his direction.
This is outrageous – so hoping the higher authority will prevail and this nasty little twerp is properly punished and educated. Thoughts are with the Mum and her son.