THE parents of Violet-Grace Youens have commended a judge for being one of the first to utilise the new law which was introduced in their daughter’s name to deliver tougher sentences for dangerous drivers.

Violet-Grace Youens died in March 2017 after she was hit by a speeding car on Prescot Road.

She was four years old.

St Helens Star: Violet-Grace Youens

The driver of that vehicle, Aidan McAteer, was sentenced to nine years and four months for causing death by dangerous driving. He was released last year.

In light of his sentence, Violet’s heartbroken parents Glenn and Becky Youens launched an online petition calling for the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving to be increased from 15 years to life.

The petition garnered 167,000 signatures and a parliamentary debate, resulting finally, in the law change that came into place in June 2022.

St Helens Star: Rebecca and Glen Youens, the parents of Violet-Grace Youens who was killed in a hit-and-run crash, outside Liverpool Crown Court after driver Aidan McAteer was jailed for nine years and four months Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

In cases where the incident has occurred after that date, judges can now take the new sentencing guidelines into consideration when sentencing.

However, Glenn and Becky were appalled after recent cases where the new sentencing powers could have been utilised didn’t see them put into force.

However, yesterday, Thursday, February 9, Glenn Youens took to social media highlighting a case in Greater Manchester where the dangerous driver was sentenced to 17 years, making it one of the first cases where Violet-Grace’s Law was finally implemented.

Commenting on the sentencing, Glenn said: “Finally a judge who has the public's justice in mind and has used Violet-Grace’ law to give a harsher sentence!

“Even though 17 years is not a full life sentence it is a much higher sentence that has previously been given out by judges for this life-changing crime.

“We know these sentences will not bring back lost loved ones but we hope it will give families some kind of comfort.

“We all hope it will be a real deterrent to those who drive dangerous on our roads!

“Violet-Grace we are all so proud of you and the changes you have made to this world.

“We will not stop until every judge uses Violet-Grace’s law and make our roads a safer place.”