Family of graduate hit by BMW call for automatic jail terms for drink drivers

Knocked down: George Beresford with parents Mark and Shaena
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The parents of a young London graduate killed by a drink-driver have secured a minister’s promise to consider automatic jail sentences in such cases.

Mark and Shaena Beresford, from Purley, near Croydon, want every driver who causes a death after drinking to spend at least one night behind bars “to reflect on the devastation they have caused”.

Their 21-year-old son George was knocked down yards from his family’s home in February by a BMW driver who was over the limit.

George died in hospital three days later — but the driver walked free from court with just a fine and a 28-month driving ban.

“Whether a driver is jailed for a day or for 100 years is not going to bring back a relative who has died,” Mrs Beresford told the Evening Standard.

“But what is important to families is that a driver does not simply walk out of court. Even if it is a day or a week, it is time for them to reflect on the devastation they have caused.”

The Beresfords have taken their call directly to justice minister Sam Gyimah after local MP Chris Philp set up a meeting in Whitehall.

The Croydon South MP told the minister that a driver can be charged only for being over the limit and not over the death.

New sentencing guidelines or a tougher law was “urgently needed”, he said.

“This has to change,” said the MP. “We need to close this loophole and make sure that families get the justice for their loved ones that they deserve.”

The family is being backed by Detective Constable Ian Payne of Scotland Yard’s serious collision investigation unit, who said he shared their upset when the driver walked free.

“I was left wondering what could be more serious than the fact that a death has occurred,” said the officer.

Following the meeting, the minister told the Beresfords he was extremely moved by the case and pledged to consider very seriously their proposals during a review of dangerous driving laws now under way.

George had completed a mathematics degree at Exeter and was said to have started work in the City.

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