‘Strong warning’: Rhymney drug driver sees “lenient” sentence increased on appeal 

The sentence of a drug driver from Rhymney has been increased after it was appealed for its apparent leniency.

Keilan Roberts, of Maes y Haf, Rhymney, was originally sentenced to three years and nine months after he admitted causing the death of 17-year-old Chloe Hayman while under the influence of drink and drugs.

Ms Hayman was a passenger in Roberts’ Skoda Octavia which he crashed in Fochriw in the early hours of July 24, 2022.

Roberts had been drinking alcohol and had taken cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.

Now, Roberts’ sentence has been increased to five years and three months after it went to the Court of Appeal.

Roberts’ driving ban was also increased from 10 to 12 years.

The Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said: “This was a tragic case where a young person died because of the offender’s reckless actions. I want to express my sincere sympathies to Chloe’s family for their loss. 

“When you get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence you are not only putting yourself in danger but your passengers and everyone else on the road. The court’s decision to increase the  sentence should serve as a strong warning that reckless behaviour will be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Roberts’ original sentence and ten-year driving ban were handed down by Judge David Wynn Morgan at Cardiff Crown Court on June 6.

As Roberts was sentenced, Judge Morgan said: “Anxiety was expressed that Chloe would become just another statistic. Chloe Hayman is no statistic.

“She was a real living person, who would be alive today had you not taken the selfish, criminally foolish, and intoxicated decision to put her in your car and drive it.”

Judge Morgan added: “The sentence handed down will seem inadequate.

“It is inadequate for the simple reason that no sentence will have the effect of restoring Chloe Hayman to her loved ones.”

A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office told Caerphilly Observer: “The Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal as it appears the original sentence was unduly lenient.”

A hearing was held on Thursday September 7 at the Court of Appeal to challenge the sentence after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The hearing was attended by Ms Hayman’s mother, Danielle O’Halloran – who in a victim statement read in Cardiff Crown Court previously said: “I pined for her that morning…and I’ve pined for her ever since.

“Chloe was the only person I trusted and felt safe with,” Ms O’Halloran added, “Chloe and I had a special bond we were the life and soul of our little home.”

Speaking directly to Roberts, who was crying, she added: “I do forgive you – I just want you to learn”.

On September 8, the Court of Appeal increased Roberts’ sentence.

This article was updated on September 8 after Roberts’ sentence was increased.