MP Conor McGinn is lending his support to a petition calling for lifelong driving bans for dangerous drivers that kill.
The St Helens North MP is urging members of the public to sign the online petition, which now has 8,800 signatures, launched by the family of Courtney Ellis.
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.
The petition is now only 1,200 short of the 10,000 goal needed for the government to respond.
St Helens North MP Conor McGinn is lending his support and urging others to sign the petition.
He said: “The whole community was shocked at the death of Courtney Ellis, and our hearts go out to her family and all those impacted by her tragic death.
“Sadly, her family’s grief is compounded by their sense of injustice.
“Thanks to the campaign of the family of Violet-Grace Youens, sentencing will in future be tougher but this should also be reflected in the length of any driving ban.
“In Parliament, I have called for anyone who causes death by dangerous driving to be dealt with harshly by the law and having met with Courtney’s mum I know how much it would mean to her and the family for the public to support the petition calling for a lifetime ban.
“I hope I get the chance to speak again on their behalf in the House of Commons”.
To sign the petition go to, petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623592
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