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Driver jailed over Poppy-Arabella Clarke crossing death | Driver jailed over Poppy-Arabella Clarke crossing death |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A pensioner who killed a three-year-old girl weeks after being told to stop driving because of poor eyesight has been jailed for four years. | A pensioner who killed a three-year-old girl weeks after being told to stop driving because of poor eyesight has been jailed for four years. |
Poppy-Arabella Clarke and her mother Rachel were struck by John Place's car as they crossed Chester Road in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in July 2016. | Poppy-Arabella Clarke and her mother Rachel were struck by John Place's car as they crossed Chester Road in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in July 2016. |
Her mother was also seriously injured in the crash. | Her mother was also seriously injured in the crash. |
Place, 72, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. | |
At the time of the incident the traffic lights were on red and the green light was flashing for pedestrians, police said. | At the time of the incident the traffic lights were on red and the green light was flashing for pedestrians, police said. |
More on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories here | More on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories here |
Place, of Bakers Lane, Sutton Coldfield, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court. | Place, of Bakers Lane, Sutton Coldfield, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court. |
He told police he was not wearing his glasses and that he had not seen the red light or the crossing itself. | He told police he was not wearing his glasses and that he had not seen the red light or the crossing itself. |
In a family statement, Poppy-Arabella's parents Rachel and Phil said their daughter had spent the morning "playing with mummy" and "was excited to be heading to nursery to see her friends". | In a family statement, Poppy-Arabella's parents Rachel and Phil said their daughter had spent the morning "playing with mummy" and "was excited to be heading to nursery to see her friends". |
The family's lawyer called for a "Poppy-Arabella's law" requiring medical professionals to report people unfit to drive to the DVLA. | The family's lawyer called for a "Poppy-Arabella's law" requiring medical professionals to report people unfit to drive to the DVLA. |
The statement added Place "did not swerve, he did not brake and he did not stop". | The statement added Place "did not swerve, he did not brake and he did not stop". |
He only stopped when flagged down by another driver. | He only stopped when flagged down by another driver. |
Changing the law | |
Poppy-Arabella's parents are calling for a change in the law, requiring medical professionals to report people who are unfit to drive the DVLA. | |
Their call follows the introduction in 2013 of "Cassie's Law", named after Cassie McCord, who was 16 when she died in 2011. | |
Colin Horsfall, 87, mounted a pavement at speed in Colchester, Essex, striking Cassie, having failed a police eye test days earlier. | |
Police had been in the process of getting Mr Horsfall banned after he refused to surrender his licence. | |
A campaign by Cassie's mother Jackie led to a change in the law, giving police more power to revoke driving licences. | |
Police previously had to write or fax a request for licence removal, but the change means they can now telephone or email, with a dedicated email for police to use. | |
Email confirmation from the DVLA means the licence is revoked so police can stop someone driving there and then. | |
A police spokesman said Poppy-Arabella's parents "continue to suffer enormously from their loss". | A police spokesman said Poppy-Arabella's parents "continue to suffer enormously from their loss". |
He added: "Place should not have been driving that day as, quite simply, his vision was severely impaired." | He added: "Place should not have been driving that day as, quite simply, his vision was severely impaired." |
Paying tribute to his daughter, Poppy-Arabella's father Phil said: "We will miss her forever, we will love her for always. | Paying tribute to his daughter, Poppy-Arabella's father Phil said: "We will miss her forever, we will love her for always. |
"We have been left with a life sentence without our little girl, whose entire life was stolen from her in a fraction of a second." | "We have been left with a life sentence without our little girl, whose entire life was stolen from her in a fraction of a second." |
Place has also been disqualified from driving for five years from the date of his release from prison. | Place has also been disqualified from driving for five years from the date of his release from prison. |
At a previous hearing, the court heard Poppy-Arabella's parents were unable to have any more children and said Place had so far shown them no remorse. | At a previous hearing, the court heard Poppy-Arabella's parents were unable to have any more children and said Place had so far shown them no remorse. |