His reckless actions killed a 'bright and loving' boy, then he had these words for his family

A driver who struck and killed a 10-year-old boy while travelling at twice the speed limit wept in court as he was jailed today (September 13).

John Harkins turned to the family of "intelligent, bright and loving" Charlie Lowe before being led from the court, and said: "I'm really sorry".

He had been travelling home from work at over 50mph in a 20mph zone when he hit Charlie in front of his mum and younger brother shortly before 4.30pm on April 20, 2023. The youngster died the following day.

A judge today told him that his actions would "haunt him for the rest of his life" Electronic systems in Harkins' car also suggested that he had been "grossly exceeding the speed limit on 19 occasions" during his journey back to Merseyside from North Wales on the day of the tragedy, the Liverpool Echo reports.

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Liverpool Crown Court heard Charlie's mother Lisa Lowe stopped her Seat Leon on Abingdon Road in Walton and parked on the side of residential side of the street. She then got out of her car and walked over to the passenger's side, opening the door to allow her eight-year-old son out of the front seat.

Stephen McNally, prosecuting, outlined how she also opened the rear door to let Charlie out of the back of the vehicle. The youngster then began to cross over the road towards the Asda supermarket

He was said to have "taken but a few steps" into the carriageway when he was struck by Harkins' 23-plate Ford Kuga and "thrown forward by the force of the collision". Charlie was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital's intensive care unit, but his injuries were described as "un-survivable" and he was pronounced dead at 5.40am the following day.

The 35-year-old driver, of Scarisbrick Road in Norris Green, remarked "he just ran out" after stopping at the scene, where he was found to have no trace of drink or drugs in his system. Under interview, Harkins was asked "if he was prepared to answer questions" and replied: "I am. I’ll do anything mate, it’s a little child. You know what I mean?"

He went on to tell detectives that he had been licenced to drive for seven years and "had no issues and no offences during that period", adding that he "knew the area well and had lived around there all his life". The scaffolder said he had attended a work-related course in North Wales on the day in question and had been on his way home at the time of the accident.

When asked what speed he was travelling at, Harkins responded "I can only suggest the speed limit" and said he "hadn’t particularly looked at the display, but was watching the road". When told there was CCTV footage of the incident, the dad-of-three replied that "he was simply unable watch it".

Investigators from Merseyside Police subsequently concluded that his car was travelling at 51mph at the time of the collision and that Charlie was "in the carriageway for less than one second prior to the impact". A police investigator concluded that, had Harkins been travelling at 20mph, the collision would likely have still occurred. However, the impact, of course, would have been significantly different due to that lower speed.

Harkins has "relatively minor matters" on his criminal record, but none for more than 15 years and no previous terms in prison.

Tom Watson, defending, told the court: "This is a crime which led to such dreadful and tragic consequences and took a loving, happy young boy, Charlie, from his family. The defendant knows and publicly recognises that their loss is unimaginable.

"I, on his behalf, recognise that he cannot truly appreciate the depths of their despair and loss. He has, the court may think rightly, attempted to picture himself in their position. He has three children, and one of them is a 10-year-old boy.

"The defendant must now settle down to the prison sentence that he is about to receive. That sentence cannot in any way ever be a reflection of the life lost.

"He recognises that the sentence he must now begin to serve is a sentence that will come to an end. He will be released. There will be no release for the victim, Charlie, and his family."

Harkins admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was imprisoned for six years and eight months, after which he turned to Charlie's family in the public gallery and tearfully told them: "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."

Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: "This is obviously a profoundly sad case where a young boy, only 10 years old, lost his life. Charlie was clearly a much loved child. He was intelligent, bright and loving. I cannot imagine for a moment what Charlie's family are going through. The sentence I will pass today can never reflect the loss they have suffered.

"It being 4.30 in the afternoon, you should have expected that there would be children arriving home from school or visiting the nearby supermarket with their parents. The speed limit in operation on that road was 20mph. The whole purpose was to prevent accidents, to provide a greater reaction time for drivers and to minimise the risk of serious injury following an accident. You were driving at over two-and-half times the permitted speed limit.

"I accept that you are remorseful for what you have done and that this incident will undoubtedly haunt you for the rest of you life. Of course, your incarceration will have a real adverse impact on your own family."

Harkins was also banned from driving for a total of eight years and four months. He will be required to pass an extended retest before he is allowed back on the roads.