Motorist who took cocaine jailed for 12 years after causing death of 10-year-old girl in Dartford

A motorist who had taken cocaine before driving has been jailed for 12 years after he caused the death of a young girl in Dartford.

Gavin Prodger took the class A drug before he got behind the wheel of his Audi on Saturday 10 July 2021.

His car struck 10-year-old Lily Lockwood in Watling Street at around 6.50pm, as she crossed the road to join her friends in the local park.

Checked road was clear

CCTV footage showed that Lily had carefully checked the roads were clear before the collision. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

At the scene, officers required Prodger, from Rochester to complete an impairment test. He performed poorly during the procedure and was arrested.

Constables from Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit began an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and identified that Prodger had been driving at 47mph in a 30mph speed limit. They also found he had defective eyesight and was using his mobile phone to send a photograph in the moments leading up to the collision.

Analysis of samples taken whilst Prodger was in custody identified he had a combination of drugs in his system whilst driving. He was charged and later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for cocaine and benzoylecgonine, and to possession of cocaine.

Sentenced

Prodger, aged 50, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 23 October 2023 and will have to serve a minimum of eight years in prison before he can apply for parole. He will also have an additional two years to serve on licence once he is released.

In addition, Prodger has been disqualified from driving until 2040 and his Audi has been forfeited.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Lee Berridge, said: ‘Prodger’s decision to drive that day cost a young child her life and left a family in mourning for the loss of their little girl.
‘Not only was Prodger under the influence of class A drugs, he was also speeding, had a known eyesight condition and was using his mobile phone. These critical decisions meant his ability to drive was seriously impaired, he posed a significant risk to other motorists and pedestrians, and was unable to respond in good time to avoid a tragic collision.
‘His sentence should serve as a lesson to others who disregard the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Their selfish actions can have appalling consequences. I can only hope that the conclusion of this trial allows Lily’s family some closure, knowing that the person responsible for her death is now serving a prison sentence.’