MORE than 8,400 people are backing a petition started by a grieving Haydock mum that calls for a ban on dangerous drivers who kill from ever getting behind the wheel again.
In September 2020, Courtney Ellis was out with her sister Morgan and a friend on Blackbrook Road when she was hit by a speeding car travelling in excess of 90mph on a 30mph road.
The impact – witnessed by her sister and their friend - severed her spinal cord and caused fatal injuries. She was just 14-years-old.
The man convicted of the crime, Brandon Turton, 21, pleaded guilty in Liverpool Crown Court and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison in September 2022.
Turton was also disqualified from driving for seven years and four months.
The driving disqualification started from the start of his sentence, meaning upon release in three years he will only have four years remaining on his driving ban.
Courtney’s heartbroken mum, Angela Burke, launched a petition calling for a law change in relation to the driving ban, asking for those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to be given a lifetime driving ban.
Spurred on by the support from the family of Violet-Grace Youens, who went on to change the law in relation to dangerous driving by launching their own petition, Angela has bravely shared her story of grief and amassed more than 8,400 signatures, just 1,600 shy of the 10,000 needed for the government to respond to the petition.
Speaking to the Star, Angela, from Haydock, said: “I can’t explain what being this close to the 10,000 means to me.
“I cope with the loss of Courtney by focussing on my other babies, blocking out the pain. So to do this I am knocking down those walls and breaking my heart again and again and again and I’m aching, broken and emotionally and physically tired with it all – but I’d do it again and again for my Courtney.
“My child is gone. I can do nothing else for her, but this could help future Courtney’s and there is nothing good that can come from losing my baby. Nothing. But something positive could come from our grief. From sharing her story.
“If something positive can come from all of this, a law change, maybe even in her name. Then all of my suffering going over it to local press like the Star and then on TV and radio is all worth it.
“I love my children. I never ever wanted to see my child hurt. But she did and dangerous drivers cannot get away with this anymore.
“It takes heartbroken parents coming together to say no more. That’s what Glenn and Becky have done and I’m doing it too.
“Please help me get this done for my Courtney and all the future Courtneys, because as easily as it happened to my family, it could happen to yours.”
To sign the petition, currently sitting at 8,438 signatures, go to petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623592
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