The family of a five-year-old girl who was the victim of a hit-and-run outside her home have criticised the sentence handed out to the man responsible for her injuries.
Michaela Jones, five, suffered cuts and bruises, a lacerated liver and a smashed left leg and foot when she was hit by uninsured driver Anthony Hunt last month.
The full extent of the impact her injuries are going to have on her life is still unknown.
The incident happened on Saturday, June 17 in Bryn Glas, Penyrheol.
Mother Claire Jones, 43, recalled what happened.
She said: “I remember hearing a smash and turning around and seeing that the car had hit her.
“The car had stopped and went to Michaela and her left foot was in the wheel arch.
“I got her out and laid her on the grass and I’m thinking ‘hurry up and help’ about the driver.
“All of a sudden he drove off.”
Neighbours quickly came to Mrs Jones’ and Michaela’s aid and paramedics were called.
Later that same day, Mrs Jones decided to turn detective and posted an appeal on Facebook.
The driver, Anthony Royston Hunt from Senghenydd who is known locally as Budda, was soon named on social media.
However, the family claim that Hunt managed to get hold of their mobile number and text messaged them denying it was him.
By the Monday, he had handed himself into police and appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court.
Hunt, 32, of School Street, Senghenydd, admitted charges of driving without insurance, driving without a licence, driving without due care and attention, and failing to stop after an accident.
He was handed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, given a 12-month driving ban and ordered to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work.
He was also told to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
The family are angry at the sentence and say it does not reflect the crime.
Michaela’s grandmother Maggie Twynham, 68, said: “He can live his life normally, but she can’t.
“He should be in prison.”
The family said Hunt called Michaela’s father Martin after the court case to apologise, but say he should have gone to the police sooner and not denied it to them initially.
Michaela has had to miss school following her ordeal, but the community has rallied round the family – helping out where they can with Michaela’s three siblings
Family friend Elaine Davies and neighbour Adam Kidley have chipped in and florist Nicola Downie helped put a smile back on a young girl’s face when she sent a bouquet of flowers free of charge.
Mrs Jones said: “Everybody has been so kind.”
This just shows what a farce the Criminal Justice System has become !
ok i will say this first so that people know where i am coming from. when i was 5 i was hit by a car on the lansberry ring road. my right leg was smashed my face ripped open and half my teeth knocked out i still at the age of 30 have a lot of trouble with my leg and and my teeth.
and while i whould say the accident was not my falt in that i didn’t know better and that i have an eye condition i didn’t understand at the time. there is no way you can blame the driver for what happened to me as i stepped into the car.
as the article is unclear on the events running up to the accident (i dont think he chose to or wanted to hit the girl) if he was driving as a normal person and the girl (being young and not knowing better) stepped in to the road then the sentencing is entirely in line with failing to stop after an accident then turning yourself in later.
Omg are you real the driver was uninsured and chose to leave the poor girl !! Maybe it wasnt his fault but he should never have been behind the wheel and should have been more concerned about her not himself shocking !! And i also was knock over at 3yrs old by a minibus that was no fault of the driver but he didnt leave the hospital untill he knew i was ok x
he had handed himself into police
its not uncommon to panic and tern yourself in once you calm down
the guy who hit me did the same thing
Regardless of if the child stepped into the road and was a genuine accident, He had no licence, no insurance, lack of due care and attention and failing to stop! He should be in jail and for years not 18 weeks suspended! He may not have chosen or wanted to hit the girl but he did not have a licence so should never have been behind the wheel, full stop! There is no justification anyone can make on this idiots behalf that would make his poor decision a simple mistake! am i saying this wouldn’t have happened if he had a licence, no, would it have happened if with no licence he wasn’t driving, in this paritcular case yes!
That havent stopped him because he has still been driveing arohnd in a white ldv i seen him the over day in pontypridd the justice systems all to pot thay should look him up and put the key down the drain and let him rot