The parents of a boy who was hit by a van and left to die have accused the hit-and-run driver of “inhuman” behaviour - but say they have forgiven him nonetheless.
Stewart Powell, 49, was today given a suspended sentence for leaving the scene after his grey Peugeot van struck little William Brown, who had run out into the street after his football. Folkestone Magistrates’ Court today heard that Mr Powell got out of his van after hitting William, saw someone was performing CPR on him, before fleeing the scene.
William was pronounced dead at the scene on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone, Kent, after the hit from Powell threw him in the path of another car on December 6 last year. The next day, Mr Powell phoned 999 to confess his crimes to officers, saying “the whole f******* thing just stressed me out”, according to Prosecutor Julie Farbrace.
Grieving father-of-two William Sr was emotional as he read out statements in court on the devastating loss of his son, addressing Mr Powell directly as he did so. “It was cowardly not to stop and keep driving, Stewart.” But William Sr honourably offered the driver forgiveness despite the fact he drove away from his son’s dying body.
“I know William would forgive Stewart… I forgive you, Stewart, I give your family peace and restoration,” the father said. Laura Brown, William’s mother, accused Mr Powell of leaving her son in the road “like an animal”, adding: “Stewart stood watching the catastrophic incident unfold. He made a conscious decision to get back into his van and leave him.”
“That behaviour is simply inhumane,” Laura went on. “We had to deal with the hammer blow, someone hit him and left the scene. The not knowing who killed William tortured my mind. I was begging the van driver to come forward. Stewart’s actions prolonged suffering we were already enduring.” Adrienne Wright, defending Powell, argued it was an out of character incident and it was “sheer panic” which provoked him to act in the way he did, adding that “not a moment passes that he does not regret his decision”.
District Judge Claire Loxford said in her sentencing remarks: “Your punishment will go far beyond the sentence I impose on you this morning. By leaving the scene you denied police the opportunity to investigate other offences, having accepted being a cannabis user at the time, and having used cannabis that day.”
Powell, of St Mary’s Bay, pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the accident and driving without valid insurance, and was therefore sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months along with a curfew.