In a recent High Court decision, the sentence for a man responsible for the hit-and-run death of 13-year-old Kaylan Hippsley has been increased, after being deemed “unduly lenient” by judges. The tragic incident occurred on Brecon Road in Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 29 February.
Harley Whiteman, 20, who was initially handed a six-year and nine-month prison term in April for the death of Kaylan, will now serve nine years. The decision came after an appeal by prosecutors who argued the original sentence did not sufficiently reflect the severity of the crime. Alongside the increased jail time, Whiteman’s driving ban has also been extended from eight years and four months to 11 years.
The court heard that on the day of the accident, Whiteman, who had been under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, swerved to avoid another vehicle, lost control, and struck Kaylan, who was walking towards a youth centre with friends. The impact threw Kaylan into the air, leading to injuries that resulted in his death three days later.
Further damning Whiteman’s actions, evidence was presented that after fleeing the scene, he returned only to verbally abuse bystanders attempting to assist the injured boy. This disregard for human life played a significant role in the decision to increase his sentence.
During the hearing at the High Court in London, the judges criticized the original handling of the case by Cardiff Crown Court, suggesting that too much emphasis had been placed on Whiteman’s youth and not enough on the reckless behaviour that led to Kaylan’s death.
“Whiteman drove in a highly impaired state, at speeds wholly inappropriate for a built-up area. Kaylan was a pedestrian, a young one at that, standing in a place where he should have been safe,” Kelly Brocklehurst, representing the attorney general, argued in court.
Defending Whiteman, James Hartson insisted that the original sentence was just, emphasizing his client’s clean previous record and ongoing apprenticeship in carpentry. However, these arguments were dismissed by Lord Justice William Davis who presided over the appeal.
The increase in Whiteman’s sentence provides little solace to Kaylan’s grieving family, who continue to feel the immense loss of a young life cut tragically short. Kaylan’s cousin, Julie Craig, expressed mixed feelings: “We feel justified in appealing the sentence, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that we miss Kaylan immensely.
Whiteman will now spend at least two-thirds of his sentence in custody, reflecting the courts’ commitment to addressing serious driving offences more stringently.
