Gavin Prodger’s Audi A1 slammed into Lily Lockwood on Watling Street at 6.50pm on July 10, 2021, killing the young girl instantly. Originally jailed for 12 years for careless driving causing death and cocaine possession, his sentence has now been cut to eight and a half years on appeal.
Speeding and Phone Use Caught on CCTV
Shocking CCTV shows Lily carefully checking the road as she crossed to meet friends in a Stone park. But Prodger was tearing down Watling Street at 47mph in a 30mph zone, distracted by his phone as he sent a photo moments before the crash.
Emergency crews rushed Lily to hospital, but she died shortly after. Tests revealed Prodger, from Beaulieu Rise, Rochester, had cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system at the time.
Investigator Condemns Reckless Driving
“Prodger’s decision to drive that day cost a young child her life and left a family in mourning,” said Detective Constable Lee Berridge. “Not only was he speeding and using his phone, but he also had a known eyesight condition and was under the influence of class A drugs.”
Appeal Cuts Jail Term Over ‘Excessive’ Sentence
On October 31, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Central London heard Prodger’s lawyers argue the original 12-year sentence was too harsh. A forensic collision expert testified that despite being high, Prodger’s reaction time was “impeccable” and couldn’t have been quicker.
The defence challenged claims Prodger showed little remorse. He initially denied speeding or phone use, despite police proof. After Lily’s death, he even reoffended twice by driving under the influence of cocaine.
Judge Philip Statman said at sentencing: “I find very little that indicates genuine remorse and understanding of precisely what you have done.”
However, appeal judges ruled the case was wrongly placed in the highest culpability category (level A) and downgraded it to culpability B — slashing his sentence to eight years and six months.
Family Left Grieving While Justice Shifts
Prodger is reported to be “appalled” by the tragedy he caused. But that offers little comfort to Lily’s grieving family, who are still mourning their little girl taken far too soon on a quiet summer evening.
