Lily Lockwood: Mother destroyed after drug-driver kills girl

Nicola Waters said no jail term could ever be long enough

The mother of a 10-year-old girl killed by a drug-driver as she walked to the shops to buy sweets, has said the man responsible "destroyed her life".

Lily Lockwood was crossing the road in July 2021 when she was knocked down by Gavin Prodger's car in Dartford.

Her mother Nicola Waters has urged drivers not to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs.

She said: "I'm broken. I have to walk past [the scene] every day to take my youngest to school."

She added: "No sentence would ever be long enough."

Gavin Prodger was jailed for 12 years

Prodger, 50, was released on bail following Lily's death in Watling Street, Dartford.

He then went on to be caught drink-driving twice before his trial began.

At Maidstone Crown Court in October 2023, Prodger was sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting to causing death by careless driving while over the limit.

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.

Lily Lockwood had gone out to buy sweets when she was knocked down

Lily was in year five at school and enjoyed PE and maths. She was due to become an aunt in summer next year.

Her grandmother Kim Wilkins says she was always grinning and mischievous.

Ms Waters said: "We will never be the same again. It's a horrendous way for a 10-year-old child to die."

"People say it gets better, but it doesn't get better because at 11, Lily should have gone to secondary school. She should have had a prom that she missed. The guy didn't show any remorse."

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

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