Hope Fennell death: MP calls for review of driver's sentence

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24106004

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A Birmingham MP has written to the Attorney General to review the sentence given to a lorry driver who knocked down and killed a 13-year-old girl.

Hope Fennell was hit by a lorry as she tried to cross Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham on 7 November 2011.

Darren Foster, 38, of Waldene Drive, Alvaston, Derby, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Hall Green MP Roger Godsiff said the sentence was too lenient and that there was "outrage" in the community.

In February, Foster, who had sent text messages while driving and then deleted them, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to perverting the course of justice.

Mr Godsiff said: "There is concern that such a short sentence for causing the death of a girl and a serious attempt to pervert the course of justice sends out very much the wrong message to the wider public about the dangers and illegality of using hand-held phones while driving a motor vehicle."