‘No justice’ for family of teenager as drink-drive killer is jailed

Nineteen-year-old Callum Wark, from Swillington, Leeds, died after his car was hit by a lorry driven by Bulgarian Stoyan Andonov Stoyanov on March 1.

Stoyanov, 56, was nearly three times the drink drive limit when he swerved onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into Callum’s Renault Clio on the A1246 near Fairburn.

He was jailed for seven years and eight months at York Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

But Callum’s family said the sentence – which took into account Stoyanov’s early guilty plea – left them angry.

His dad Robert Wark said: “Even though the judge gave the maximum sentence he could in relation to a guilty plea.

“All the family feel very let down by the justice system knowing he will only serve half the sentence.

“This has made us feel Callum has had no justice.”

Former Brigshaw High School pupil Callum would have celebrated his 20th birthday two days after the incident.

The tragedy prompted a flood of tributes, including tweets from Leeds players Ross McCormack and Sam Byram.

As well as his jail term Stoyanov was banned from driving in the UK for 10 years. He faces deportation after being released from prison.

Sergeant Andy Fraser, of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Investigation Team, said: “Callum’s tragic and untimely death was only three week’s ago and his family are still in shock from the events of that devastating day.

“No sentence can ever compensate for the loss of Callum, but we hope the outcome brings some small measure of comfort to Callum’s family knowing that Stoyanov has been held responsible for his death.”

Yesterday’s sentencing came as a survey by West Yorkshire-based road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line found eight out of 10 drivers think current penalties for killer drivers aren’t harsh enough.

The poll revealed that 85 per cent want a minimum of five years in prison for drivers who kill while under the influence of drink or drugs.