Peterborough Telegraph campaign victory: Husband of wife killed by drink driver welcomes change in law

Chris Cunningham’s wife Katy was killed when drink driver Adam White Adam White ploughed into the back of another car, before careering into the path of her car in January last year. Children Freya (now 13) and Zackeri (now 10) were both seriously injured and are still recovering as a result.

White was given a nine year sentence - meaning he will serve just four and a half years behind bars - leaving Chris angry, feeling justice had not been served.

MORE: Drink driver who killed Peterborough mum in horror crash jailed

MORE: Peterborough dad speaks of moment he said goodbye to daughter as she fought for life - after crash caused by drink driver which killed his wife

The Peterborough Telegraph has been campaigning for judges to be given the chance to hand down life sentences to drivers who kill while under the influence of drink and/or drugs.

Now after a change in the law, judges will be given that option from next year. Currently the maximum sentence is 14 years.

When the sentence was handed out Chris (38) described it as ‘a mockery of justice’ and welcomed the change in the law.

He said: “It is about time this is happening. It should have been in place before the crash with Katy.

“It is too late for him (White) but I have been pushing so hard for Boris Johnson and the Government to change the legislation. Something can come from the loss we have had.

“We do not get any closure - we have a life sentence without Katy. But he will be out on the street, living his life like normal in just a few years. That is not justice.

“The judge was embarrassed by what sentence he was able to pass, and that says everything about the justice system we have.”

Zackeri and Freya are still recovering from their injuries nearly two years later, with Freya scheduled to have an operation on her back this week.

Chris said: “Our life sentence will never end.

“I am looking at secondary school application forms for Zackeri at the moment - he won’t have his mum when he goes to that school. His mum was not there at the Christmas performance. I could see him looking for her, even though she wasn’t there. I still sit at home waiting for her to come home.

“It has been very up and down, it has been so hard to process. Lockdown initially helped all three of us - there was no rushing about, and it gave us time to process things, and to adjust. But we still take everyday as it comes. It is a rollercoaster.

The children have been so good - I don’t know how either of them do it.”

The Peterborough Telegraph started the campaign to increase sentencing options following a series of deaths on roads in and around the city caused by drivers who were under the influence.

MORE: Families back Peterborough Telegraph campaign for killer drink and drug drivers to get life in jail

Grandfather Michael Howard died in 2018 after being hit by Neville Smith, who was in a stolen car in Bretton. Smith, who was high on drugs at the time of the crash was jailed for six years and four months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, and a number of other offences.

Ann Kidd, Michael’s brother, said the sentence was ‘heart-wrenching.’

In 2019 Marko Makula, 22, and passengers Jana Kockova, 21, and Tomos Kocko, 19, all died in a crash caused by Tommy Whitmore on the Frank Perkins Parkway.

Whitmore, who was drunk and under the influence of cannabis, was jailed for eight years and four months - meaning he would serve just four years and two months behind bars.

Marko’s brother, Mario, labelled the sentence handed out to Whitmore as ‘insulting.’

Speaking after the government’s announcement, Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake said: “Crash victims have waited three long years for this announcement. Road crime is real crime and it is high-time that the Government, and the law, recognised this.

“Years of Government inaction have added to the suffering of road victims who have not been delivered the justice they, and their loved ones, deserve. The Government must now implement these tougher sentences as first priority, delivering on their overdue promise to road crash victims, and then urgently initiate a review of the flawed legal framework for road justice.

“Driving is a privilege not a right and yet our flawed legal system continues to allow convicted dangerous drivers on the roads where they can endanger others. We all want safer roads but we will only achieve this if the law treats road crime with the seriousness it deserves.”

Making the announcement, Justice Minister Dominic Raab said: “We’ve taken a long hard look at driving sentences, and we received 9,000 submissions to our consultation. Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims’ families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs.”

In 2016, 157 people across the country were sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving, with a further 32 convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence.

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow said: “There are heart-breaking stories of families destroyed by drink drivers. It’s thanks to the hard work of those like the Peterborough Telegraph, campaigning on victims’ behalf, that the law is changing.

“Punishment should reflect the harm caused. Some drivers deserve life sentences and serious injuries should result in more than a fine.

“I’m pleased the Government is legislating to fix the system. The law can’t bring our loved ones back, but it can serve justice.”

North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said: “Sentences for killer drivers do need to be reviewed and I welcome these proposals introducing life sentances in serious cases. The proposed new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving is also a welcome move.

The new sentences will serve both as more fitting punishment and also they should further act to deter potential offenders.”