Mother’s anger as ‘heartless’ driver who killed her 15-year-old daughter at pedestrian crossing is launched from jail lower than midway by way of his sentence after simply six months

A mother has expressed her outrage after the ‘heartless’ driver who mowed down her daughter at a pedestrian crossing has walked free from prison after just six months.

Keely Morgan, 15, was walking home from a friend’s house when she was knocked down by speeding driver Christopher West.

West, 42, had been ‘showing off’ to young passengers in his car – and brazenly claimed he ‘hadn’t seen’ Keely when he hit her on the zebra crossing.

He was jailed for 16 months last July, but Keely’s family learned he had been released from prison after serving little more than six months.

The Labour government changed the rules on early release in September 2024, which allows for prisoners who are eligible to serve 40 per cent of their sentence before being freed – down from 50 per cent previously. 

Inmates serving sentences for serious sexual, violent, and terror offences are excluded from the scheme.

This week, Keely’s mother Sian Morgan said the justice system had ‘failed completely’ and described her pain as ‘beyond broken’.

‘He’s out after barely six months for killing my beautiful 15-year-old daughter,’ she said.

Christopher West, 42, walked free from prison after serving just six months of his 16-month sentence, after fatally knocking down 15-year-old Keely Morgan at a pedestrian crossing 

The court heard West had been driving at between 38mph and 42mph in a 30mph zone and had removed a black box from his car following previous speeding offences – a move that voided his insurance

West struck Keely in Caerau, Cardiff on the evening of May 1, 2023. She died at the scene

‘He has shown absolutely no remorse. He’s a heartless piece of work and has told lie after lie. He may have served time, but he hasn’t had to face a grieving mother without a screen protecting him.’

West struck Keely in Caerau, Cardiff on the evening of May 1, 2023. She died at the scene.

A court heard West had been driving at between 38mph and 42mph in a 30mph zone and had removed a black box from his car following previous speeding offences – a move that voided his insurance.

He later admitted causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while uninsured.

Keely had bravely battled chronic kidney disease and received a transplant in 2021, was just beginning to enjoy life again when she was struck and killed.

‘She was excited to live,’ Ms Morgan said. ‘She had plans, friends, dreams – like every teenage girl. All of that was taken away from her.’

Ms Morgan also accused West of lying repeatedly during the investigation and attempting to manipulate his own children into covering for him.

‘What kind of man does that?’ she said. ‘There was no remorse. Even the judge said he showed none during the two-year investigation.’

Keely pictured with her mother, Sian, brother Kai and stepfather Liam. Sian is campaigning for tougher sentences to be imposed on dangerous drivers

During sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Paul Hobson described West as an ‘irresponsible show-off’, telling him that although he appeared sorry, much of his concern was for himself.

He told him: ‘You should have seen her and come to a stop in order to allow her to cross, instead you continued driving, oblivious to her, meaning that when Keely stepped into the road you collided with her.

‘The speed limit on that stretch of road at the time was 30 miles per hour and it is plain you were going in excess of that speed limit.’

Passengers in West’s car said he had been ‘showing off’ and ‘snaking’ the vehicle from side to side moments before the crash.

CCTV footage showed Keely was clearly visible on the crossing and was almost off it when she was struck by West.

‘It would not have happened if he wasn’t speeding,’ Ms Morgan said. ‘Let that sink in.’

West was jailed for 16 months and was banned from driving for two years and eight months.

At the time, there were shouts of ‘disgusting’ in court as the sentence was handed down, with members of Keely’s family walking out.

Ms Morgan said seeing reports of drug dealers receiving longer sentences had left her furious.

‘They haven’t killed anyone. Make it make sense.’

‘Broken is an understatement [and] doesn’t even begin to cover what Christopher West has done to our family. 

‘The law needs toughening up so victims can get justice.’

Ms Morgan has launched a petition calling for tougher sentences on dangerous drivers.

Daily Mail has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.