Greiving parents of girl, 15, killed by out-of-control BMW charged with harassing driver

The decision not to charge the driver has left Colin and Angela distraught.

The mum and dad of a schoolgirl killed at a bus stop by an out-of-control BMW have appeared in court accused of harassing the driver.

Katelyn Dawson, 15, was waiting in the Moldgreen area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on January 10, 2018 when a car mounted the pavement and mowed her down.

The popular student at Shelley College died later that day an two other women who were hit suffered life-changing injuries.

Katelyn’s parents Colin and Angela were furious when they learned the driver, who was 51 at the time, would not face charges after the Crown Prosecution Service heard evidence that he fainted at the wheel.

The pair have been unable to come to terms with the decision and appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court today charged with harassing the driver and a woman believed to be his wife.

One of the incidents related to Colin, 47, and Angela, 50 handing out a petition titled ‘Justice for Katelyn’ outside the premises where the driver worked in August.

The couple face 10 charges relating to harassment without violence and sat outside the court in its precincts while District Judge Richard Clews heard arguments from the defence and prosecution.

The case has been adjourned until January 14, 2020.

Huddersfield MP, Barry Sheerman, who has campaigned on behalf of the Dawsons and has named the driver in the House of Commons, sent a letter to the court pleading their case.

He wrote: ‘I truly sympathise with Mr and Mrs Dawson in their endurance of injustice with regard to their daughter’s case.

‘I find it strange that a justice system where a child is killed but no-one is prosecuted but her distressed and desperate parents end up charged with harassment.

‘I have a feeling of deep injustice in this case and will be raising the whole case in Parliament in the new year.

‘I hope that you will bear in mind the full extent of the situation that I have outlined of the Dawsons, who are a good, law-abiding and grieving family.’