Speeding drug driver killed girl, 10, in crash

Lily Lockwood, 10, was crossing the road when she was knocked down

A drug driver who killed a 10-year-old girl in a crash in Kent while under the influence of cocaine has been jailed.

Lily Lockwood was crossing the road when she was knocked down by Gavin Prodger’s car in Watling Street, Dartford.

The 50-year-old has been convicted of drug-driving twice since the crash in July 2021.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Prodger was sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting to causing death by careless driving while over the limit.

Gavin Prodger had consumed a substantial amount of cocaine immediately before driving, the court heard

Prodger, of Rochester, had consumed a substantial amount of cocaine immediately before driving, the court heard.

It was calculated that he was travelling at up to 47mph in a 30mph zone and had been using his phone immediately before the collision.

The court also heard that Lily, of Stone, had been walking to buy sweets at the time of the crash.

In a victim-impact statement, her mother Nicola Waters spoke of the final hours she spent with Lily in hospital before her life-support was withdrawn.

“I told her time and time again that I Ioved her. I kept telling her I was sorry that I could not save her,” she said.

“I could not begin to imagine a life without Lily in it. It is a nightmare that I cannot wake up from.”

Prodger was also disqualified from driving for nine years and sentenced to an extended licence period of two years.

After her death, Lily’s family agreed for her organs to be donated, which have since helped two adults and two children.