GRIEVING families were dragged to court for a third after a judge changed aspects of a death crash driver's sentence yet again following another 'error'.
Families of the victims of a fatal crash on the A44 Spetchley Road in Worcester attended Worcester Crown Court for a third time yesterday (Wednesday) as the judge amended part of the sentence yet again.
The crash on February 22 killed Leo Painter, six, Claire Adkins, 39, and Courtney Hemming, 26.
The driver Joe-Lewis Tyler, 34, of Grenville Road, Dines Green already had his sentence increased from the original 18-year prison sentence to 19 years and two months for death by dangerous driving after Judge James Burbidge KC realised he had made an error.
On Wednesday, the case was listed again for a second time under the 'slip rule' which allows the judge to vary aspects of the sentence, this time to alter the length of the driving disqualification.
The case was listed for the variation the same week the families were left heartbroken after they learned from the Attorney General's Office that the Solicitor General would not allow the case to proceed to appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.
The judge apologised to the defendant who appeared over videolink from prison as members of the families of Claire Adkins and Courtney Hemming observed from the public gallery.
Judge Burbidge changed the length of the driving ban which had been 153 months and 10 days to 213 months and 10 days from the date of sentence.
Tyler must also sit an extended driving retest upon release, as previously stated.
The judge said he was grateful to counsel for assisting in reaching the appropriate, up-to-date legal position.
"This amendment does not restrict either the right of the prosecution or the defence to have the sentence of imprisonment considered elsewhere on appeal," he said.
However, families of those who died in the crash were upset that they had now had to attend court three times - once for the sentence and twice more for variations under the slip rule.
Tracy Hemming, 45, of Ambleside Drive, Warndon, auntie of Courtney and cousin of Claire, said: "This is the second slip up. Maybe it should go to appeal to make sure the sentence is right.
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"Tyler has got no remorse. We should only be going back to court for appeals, not because the judge messed up."
Julia Earlam, mum of Claire Adkins, said: "This is the third time we have had to come to court. He should be serving three life sentences."
Michelle Hemming, mum of Courtney, said: "We get all worked up each time. We're losing sleep over this."
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