Devastated family react to driver's sentencing after hit-and-run

As reported by the Star, Anya Foster was jailed for six years and eight months on Tuesday, November 5, after she hit 59-year-old David Burrows with a car and left him on the side of the road.

David, a Pilkington worker from Blackbrook, was riding a pedal bike on Islands Brow, close to the junction with Hinckley Road, when he was hit by Foster's Skoda in December 2023.

With two carers calling for an ambulance after they found David shortly after 6am, the 59-year-old was rushed to hospital but he later died from his injuries.

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The scene at Islands Brow last December (Image: St Helens Star) With police alerted to Foster's address in Parr following an anonymous phone call, she initially lied about the incident and claimed that Mr Burrows denied her offer of calling an ambulance.

She also lied about her drug consumption, as subsequent blood tests confirmed the presence of cannabis and cocaine in her system, with the latter around five times above the limit despite the tests being carried out 12 hours after the crash.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Foster pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for two separate controlled substances, driving whilst unfit through drugs, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision.

While Foster was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, she will serve no more than half of this before being released on licence, which has caused upset for many who believe this sentence is too lenient.

Foster was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and four months, after which she must pass an extended driving test before getting behind the wheel again.

Anya Foster was jailed for six years and eight months (Image: Merseyside Police) Following yesterday's sentencing, David's family has released a heart-breaking tribute: "We as a family, are to this day heartbroken to lose our David. We are all are still coming to terms with the loss of our David, our life will truly never be the same again.

“On the 5th November we attended court to witness some justice for our David, supported by family friends. No sentence would ever bring David back, no sentence will ever be enough.

“We would like to thank Merseyside Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the nurses, and doctors at Whiston Hospital and especially those who helped David on that fateful morning."

David's family have released heartbreaking tributes to the 59-year-old (Image: Merseyside Police) In court, further victim impact statements were heard from David's brothers and niece. Paul Burrows said: “How can something like this happen and David be left at the side of the road?

“The person responsible did not have the decency to stop. This is wholly unbelievable and unforgettable.”

Stephen Burrows said: “I cannot put it into words. My world has been turned upside down. I did not just lose my big brother, but my life-long best friend.

“We did everything together, even going to the supermarket. I will never be able to invite him around again for a cup of tea.

“I do not know if I will ever learn to live with his death. A piece of me died that day forever.”

His niece Amelia wrote: “I do not know how I am going to live without my Uncle David. I had 18 years of pure joy with him before he was ripped away.”