A CHALLENGE over the length of the jail sentence handed to a Keighley drug driver who killed a nine-year-old boy in a hit-and-run has failed.

It means that the eight-year sentence given to Luke Widdop, 51, after leaving George Lewis fatally injured in the 2021 crash in Sutton-in-Craven, will remain the same and not be increased.

The boy’s father, Michael Lewis, and another child were also injured in the collision which happened as they were walking on the road at around 9pm on September 17, 2021.

In October Widdop was jailed at Bradford Crown Court, but a bid was made earlier in November for the sentence to be reviewed under a scheme for sentences believed to be too lenient.

The Attorney General has decided not to refer Widdop’s sentence to the Court of Appeal.

During the original hearing, the court heard that dairy worker Widdop had smoked crack cocaine at some point before driving home in a work van, speeding at around 50mph, where the limit was 30mph.

Mr Lewis was leading the two children and had illuminated his mobile phone torch to see the way, and when a vehicle approached, they moved closer to a stone wall on the lane, which had no pavement.

Widdop admitted causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs.