Judge: I can’t abide having to hand out these sentences — they're far too soft

A JUDGE has blasted soft laws that left him powerless to properly sentence two men who left a woman crippled in a crash.

Judge Rodger Hayward-Smith QC blamed MPs for forcing him to dish out lenient jail terms to the pair who caused a horrific smash in a stolen vehicle.

Jason Young, 21, and Tyrell O’Donnell, 20, were trying to get away from police in a chase that reached speeds of up to 100mph across two counties.

The collision with Jackie Stretton’s Toyota Aygo left debris strewn across the road and caused her “appalling injuries”, including a broken back and bleeding to her brain.

But the judge had to let the young offenders off with jail terms of less than 18 months after they admitted aggravated vehicle taking.

He told Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex: “You will get out of prison and will get your life back but Jackie Stretton will never get over this, physically or mentally.

“It is absurd. If I just pass sentence and allow credit for your guilty pleas, because I have to, it will not be enough.

“It is awful. I am stuck with it because of what the law says and I can’t abide it.

Wreckage ... carnage at crash scene

Essex Pics

“You deserve, both of you, to go to prison for a very long time and I greatly regret that I am restricted in what sentence I can give you because of what Parliament has decided.”

Miss Stretton, 25, from Maldon, Essex, will never make a full recovery. She once completed charity marathons and coast-to-coast races.

But since April’s accident the law graduate has had to walk with the aid of a back brace. Her kneecap was broken in the crash and she was airlifted to hospital before being placed in a drug-induced coma.

The court heard that O’Donnell, who was driving the stolen Fiat, was arrested at the scene but low-life Young fled and did not turn himself in to police until five days later.

Powerless ... Judge Rodger Hayward-Smith QC

Photoshot

The callous pair, from Devon, were handed the maximum possible sentences of two years each for aggravated vehicle taking but both terms were automatically reduced by a third due to their guilty pleas.

Miss Stretton looked on in tears as O’Donnell was sentenced to 18 months while Young got 16 months.

The pair — who have a string of previous motoring offences — were both banned from the roads for five years.

Miss Stretton is no longer able to drive, so caught the bus from her home to be at court to witness the men who ruined her life being sentenced.

She said: “I just feel so relieved that it is over but my life has changed and I won’t get that back.

“I have been told that I may need my kneecap replaced when I reach 50 and I won’t ever get compensated for that.

Reckless ... Jason Young, left, and Tyrell O'Donnell

Martin Rose/Eastnews.co.uk

“I love my sports but I have not been able to compete and it has also affected my relationships with people because I have changed since it happened.”

Richard Stevens, prosecuting, told the court how the car was seen cutting between lanes on the A12 as police tailed them.

They finally lost control on a right-hand bend causing a massive crash involving Miss Stretton’s Toyota, a police car and a Porsche on the A414 at Danbury.

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Dave Jones, of Essex Police, said: “Tyrell O’Donnell and Jason Young had no regard for anyone.”