Jailed: 'Cowardly' speeding driver who killed girl, 10, while 'off his face'

A ‘cowardly’ speeding driver who fled after he knocked down and killed a 10-year-old girl while ‘off his face’ was jailed today.

Connor Marsden, 24, had downed pints of lager and cider in a local club an hour before he hit Melissa Tate while driving at 47mph in a 20mph zone.

He broke down in tears when the arresting officer told him the much-loved schoolgirl had died, following the crash in Kenton, Newcastle.

Melissa’s family donated her organs after the crash on September 25, saving the lives of sick children.

Prosecutors said Marsden was aware he had hit the girl and fled Newcastle after the crash, hiding in Easington, County Durham.

His actions were described as ‘an appalling act of cowardice and self-preservation’ as he was jailed for seven years and four months on Thursday.

Judge Amanda Rippon jailed him then praised the girl’s mother who made a moving victim impact statement.

Addressing the family about the sentence, the judge said: “I know it’s not enough, it’s all I can do. They have my very best wishes.”

Melissa died in hospital a day after being struck by the uninsured, unlicensed driver’s Renault Kangoo.

Mark Guiliani, prosecuting said a witness saw Marsden afterwards, saying: “He described him as off his face, incoherent.”

Another witness, a member of the Institute of Advanced Drivers, saw the van approaching the scene of the collision and recalled Marsden was driving “like a maniac”.

The witness said a group of children was clearly visible at the side of the road.

Mr Guiliani said Melissa was playing with friends and was knocked down as she tried to cross the narrow residential street, about 150 metres from her home.

She died in hospital the next day – her sister’s sixth birthday.

Police arrested Marsden in Easington 20 hours after the collision. He refused a police request to provide a blood sample.

CCTV footage showed he had drunk two pints of snakebite – lager and cider – in a local club an hour before the collision.

The court was told that had he been arrested within 18 hours, he could have been compelled to provide a sample.

Marsden previously also admitted causing death by driving while uninsured and unlicensed, both of which relate to Melissa’s death.

He also entered guilty pleas to charges of failing to stop after a road accident, failing to report an accident, driving while uninsured, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Brian Hegarty, defending, said Marsden “recognises that his actions were completely inexcusable”.

Her mother Kimberley Wilson made an emotional victim statement about her daughter, who was a volunteer Mini Police cadet who proudly wore her uniform.

She said: “I will never see Melissa grow up to be the beautiful, successful young woman we know she would have been.

“No parent should ever outlive their child. No parent should ever bury their child. I never thought it would happen to us.”

Mr Guiliani said Melissa’s father Michael Tate described her as a “beautiful, smart, funny, cheeky, laidback girl with a heart of gold and not a bad bone in her body”.

Mr Giuliani said the family could not forgive, explaining: “To have left the scene and fled the area to hide from the police after failing to take any action is unforgivable.”

The judge appeared to gather her emotions as she considered the devastating “collateral damage” to Melissa’s loved ones, including her sister “who will never be able to celebrate her birthday without remembering her sister who died that same day”.