Only 5 years in jail? Is that all for killing my little boy (From Echo)

Only 5 years in jail? Is that all for killing my little boy

8:10am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Southend By Laura Smith

A DEVASTATED mum whose six-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run has condemned the criminal justice system and the sentence given to her son’s killer.

Kelly Orrow, 32, has spoken out for the first time since the death of Joseph Ball, who was knocked down by biker Marek Kolton in October last year, in London Road, Westcliff.

Kelly said despite Kolton having no driving licence or insurance, he is likely to spend less time in jail than her son spent on Earth.

Kolton, 26, was jailed to five years, five months at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

Kelly, of Burdett Avenue, Westcliff, said: “If you look at court cases where money’s been stolen or something like that, those people get a much longer sentence.

“I think it’s wrong that money is worth more than life.”

Kolton, of Princes Street, Southend, admitted causing death by dangerous driving for which he received four years and eight months in prison.

He was given an extra nine months for breaching a suspended sentence related to previous driving offences.

Tearful Kelly said the sentence was simply not long enough, but was not surprised by it.

She said: “People are saying ‘I can’t believe he got so little prison time’, but I’d already prepared myself that he wouldn’t really get that long inside.

“The police told me how these things work.

“The judge gave the maximum he could within certain categories. But the result is he will only serve two-and-a-half years in jail.”

For Kelly, going to the hearing was one of the hardest things she has ever done. She said: “It was a last-minute decision, because at first I was adamant I didn’t want to go.

“But then I woke up on Friday and thought ‘should I go?’ “Then I had a call from the family liaison officer and thought I should go.

“I thought that someone should be there for Joseph.

“I was out of the courtroom for a little while because when they started to read my statement I just burst out crying and had to go out.

“But at least he did eventually plead guilty.”

The court heard Kolton, who is Polish, had been going at twice the speed limit at the time of the crash, and shouldn’t even have been on a motorbike as he had no licence.

Kelly added: “Like the judge said, it was a tragedy waiting to happen. It seems a shame that after that he will still only effectively got two-and-a-half years.”

She said she had no sympathy for Kolton, who was also banned from driving for ten years.

Kelly said: “He was crying in court, but I don’t care. At the end of the day, he will get to see his little one, but I won’t.”