Heartbroken mum walks out of court in disgust at ‘insulting’ sentence for six-year-old daughter’s killer
THE heartbroken mum of a six-year-old girl killed by a drunk driver using his phone walked out of court today after hearing his "insulting" sentence.
Sharlotte-Sky Naglis died instantly when John Owen, 45, smashed his car into her in Norton Green, Staffordshire.
The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from his car and taken to hospital.
Blood tests revealed Owen was nearly twice over the drink-drive limit and had cocaine in his system.
He was later found to have been speeding in the 30mph zone and was using a mobile at the time of the horror or just before.
Owen has now been jailed for six years and two months and banned from driving after admitting killing Sharlotte by dangerous driving.
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Following the sentencing, Sharlotte's devastated mum, Claire Reynolds, slammed the outcome.
She told : "It's an insult. He won't even serve half of the length of Sharlotte's life.
"We feel like our hopes were built up, the way the judge said his previous drink-driving offence from years ago was relevant."
The sentencing guidelines for the most serious death by dangerous driving offences - of which this was determined to be one - is between seven years and 14 years.
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It came as broken Claire read a powerful victim impact statement at Stafford Crown Court.
She said: "It’s impossible to truly describe how one person’s actions have affected the rest of mine and the children’s lives.
"Nothing will never be the same: getting excited, looking forward to family times, feeling complete, feeling no pain… waking up with a smile… these things have all gone.
"All I had with Sharlotte was six wonderful years. No parent should ever lose their child, especially when their child is taken away so cruelly, at such a young age and with so many dreams and so much life ahead of her.
"We’ve lost more than anybody can even begin to imagine."
She also told how the "loving, caring, brave, thoughtful, clever and full of energy" youngster was looking forward to enjoying her life after Covid.
Claire added: "I love her so much and miss everything about her. There will never be another Sharlotte."
The court was told Sharlotte was walking home from a shop near her home with her dad Kris when the horror unfolded.
Owen had approached a bend at 48mph meaning he lost control of the vehicle.
The dad-of-two later apologised for the crash but claimed he could not remember it after suffering a "traumatic" brain injury.
Judge Paul Glenn said: "You killed an innocent six-year-old child by driving at excessive speed, 48mph in a 30mph limit shortly before the collision.
"Death, mercifully, would have been instantaneous. Her father was also struck.
"The sense of loss could not possibly be overstated and no sentence the court can impose will even begin to compensate for the loss of such a wonderful child."
Sharlotte's heartbroken family paid tribute to the youngster after her death.
They said: "Sharlotte was so beautiful, full of life, always smiling, sassy, so brave and happy.
“Sharlotte just started her gymnastics classes which she loved and was shining so bright in.
“She was loved by everyone that met her, so caring and loving.
“Every night since she was born she would never sleep without holding her mum’s hand.
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“There will never be another child like her for anyone who met her.
“She was taken so early from us and will never be forgotten.”
