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Mother Of Son Killed By Drink Driver Campaigns To Change Law

Mother Of Son Killed By Drink Driver Campaigns To Change Law

Gary Green is serving 16 months in prison and is still allowed to drive.

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

A mum left heartbroken after a drunk driver killed her son is trying hard to change the law which allows the motorist to still drive.

11-year-old Harry Whitlam was crushed by Gary Green's tractor trailer when he reversed over the youngster, still intoxicated from the previous night's drinking.

Green was three times over the limit, the Mirror reports, following a 13-pint binge.

However, the farmer is still eligible to drive and has avoided a lengthy prison sentence because the incident was on private land. Had it occurred on a public road Green would be doing 14 years and would have his licence taken off him.

Credit: SWNS

He's still behind bars according to the Mirror, serving 16-and-a-half months for his crime. He'll soon be out, but despite two previous drink driving convictions still be able to get behind the wheel.

"I don't hate Gary Green, because hating him won't bring my son back," Harry's mother, Pamela, told the Mirror. "But the law needs to change so that people who drink and drive are brought to justice, no matter where they do it.

"If you murder or rape someone on private land, the same laws still apply. Why isn't this the case when you kill someone because you have chosen to drink and drive?

"It's not easy to keep speaking about what happened but if I save one family from going through this agony, it will have been worth it."

Credit: SWNS

Pamela has started a campaign for Whitlam's Law, which would see offences committed on private land receiving the same punishment if it were on a public road.

She said: "There is nothing more awful than holding your child in your arms as they lie dying, knowing there is nothing you can do to make them better. What makes it worse is that Harry's death was so senseless. It still feels like I'm waiting to wake from a bad dream.

"I took Harry to the farm with me every day because I thought it was so safe. He loved feeding the chickens and on the day he died he planned to help build a wall for some meerkats.

"But I knew it was serious as soon as I got there."

Credit: SWNS

She added: "Green was holding Harry, who was vomiting blood. I asked him not to leave, because I needed someone to help me support Harry until the ambulance got there.

"He kept telling me that he needed to go, but I begged him to stay."

Following the incident Harry was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, where Pamela was told there was a slim chance her son would survive. Doctors tried to relieve the pressure on his brain for five hours, but sadly he passed away.

This so tragic and Pamela's campaign is definitely something we should all get behind.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Drunk, law