Exclusive:
Becky and Glenn Youens’ daughter, Violet-Grace Youens, 4, was killed in 2017 by a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car going 80mph in a 30mph zone in St Helens, Merseyside
When our precious daughter Violet-Grace was killed some people said to us that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We know Violet Grace was exactly where she should have been-on the way to pick up her little brother with her Grandma Angela. Aidan McAteer hit them whilst speeding in a stolen car. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and fled the scene – after stepping over her on the pavement to recover property from the car.
He took her life without giving her a second chance, yet criminals like these are nearly always given another opportunity after serving their so-called sentences. We miss her every single day.
She lost everything that was ahead of her, her future. Our lives will never be the same again. Yet her killer was in prison just months longer than Violet Grace was alive.
We believe strongly that too often our justice system doesn’t actually deliver what victims, their families and most of the public would consider to be justice. That is why we helped to set up Justice for Victims – to work with MPs and the public to make sure the voices of victims are front and centre.
We were disappointed that the sentencing review – an opportunity to ensure the worst offenders got sentences that reflect justice – didn’t want to meet with us or even explain to us how they were considering the views of victims and their families.
The review has now recommended letting some of the worst offenders out of prison early. That isn’t putting victims and their families at the heart of our justice system. It is important to remember prisoners already get out halfway through their sentence anyway.
If the Government wants to force prisoners to do what most of us do every day anyway – work, follow the rules, refrain from drugs – they should extend their sentences if they won’t. Not let them out earlier.
I would say to everyone who feels the same way we do to write to their MP and say no-not in your name. Tell them you want families like ours and victims like Violet Grace to get justice – not more soft justice for some of the worst offenders. Not an easy way out.
Becky and Glenn Youens are co-founders of the Justice for Victims campaign group.