Death driver's sentence shock

GABOR HEGEDUS

A MOVE to increase the four-year jail sentence for a hit-and-run driver who mowed down and killed two girls has failed.

It means Gabor Hegedus (34) is likely to be released within two years on parole despite crashing his Peugeot 907 into Zaneta Krokova (11) and Helena Kotlarova (12) as the cousins crossed a road in Hathershaw on New Year's Eve.

Helena died at the scene while Zaneta passed away in hospital two days later.

Last month, Judge John Potter handed Hegedus a four-year sentence after the defendant had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, failing to stop after a collision, failing to report a collision, driving without a licence and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Hegedus, a convicted criminal from Hungary, had been speeding at 40mph on the 30mph Ashton Road moments before the crash, although his car had slowed to just below the speed limit by the time of the impact, a court heard.

Together with his three passengers ­- also convicted criminals from Hungary ­- he dumped the car and then reported it stolen in a bid to evade justice.

They washed the car with bleach to destroy any evidence and Hegedus also shaved off his beard to avoid capture. The sentence prompted outrage and the parents of the cousins, both immigrants living and working in Oldham after moving to the UK from the Czech Republic.

The case was referred to the Attorney General who has now decided not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal as "unduly lenient".

A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said: "The Solicitor General Robert Buckland offers his sincerest condolences to the families of Zaneta Krokova and Helena Kotlarova. After careful consideration we have decided not to refer the sentence of Gabor Hegedus to the Court of Appeal as we believe it was in line with sentencing guidelines and would not have been increased."

Zaneta's grieving mother has previously said that the families were serving "a life sentence", adding: "He's only got two years for taking away two human lives. It's not right."

Helena's mum said the sentence was "laughable" and spoke of her heartbreak at losing her daughter.

Hegedus had originally been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum 14 years in prison.

Fearing they may not be able to persuade a jury, prosecutors later accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving, which carries a maximum five-year sentence.

However, Hegedus also admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice which attracts a maximum life sentence.