Reconvicting fatal drink driver 8 years later | Monika's long road to justice (distressing content)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- In 2016, Lewis Heslop mounted the pavement and struck Monika Lewandowska at 40mph, causing her a catastrophic head injury. He was uninsured, without a license, and under the influence of alcohol.
Monika tenaciously clung to life for six years and needed round-the-clock care every day. Heslop served 4 years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was released before she died.
Believing that justice had not been fully served, Durham Constabulary officers reopened the investigation to prove Heslop was responsible for Monika’s death, and to reconvict him for the weightier offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
An investigation that took detectives from Darlington to Poland, and from neuropathologists to the Attorney General, this is the story of their long fight for justice.
!["Death by dangerous driving" | Drink driver hears the worst possible news [Start Listening Part 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jIRwvVpCD8A/mqdefault.jpg)
Big respect to the Durham Constabulary for putting this content out; setting an example for other counties. Wish my home county would actually attend drink & drug driver reports!
@@ChrisPatrick-q6k Staffordshire
RIP Monika and well done Durham police for the effort you all put in to bring the guilty to justice
What a brilliant video! Well done to Durham Constabulary Roads Policing team for going above and beyond expectations. As a retired RPU patrol officer, I take my cap off to your team, for bringing closure to Monika's family.
So proud of Durham Constabulary, and all our police service. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Respect to the team for following this through. Thoughts to the Monikas family. And what a great act to visit the family. The Grandmas statement "Someone else cared" summed up why this was an appropriate thing to do.
I am heartily sick of people who have so little regard for others. Well done to Durham police and Monika's family for not giving up. To me, anyone who behaves in such a way that their unlawful actions cause the death of another person should face a custodial sentence. The laws governing the times to be served are way overdue an update.
Let this be a lesson to the selfish few that continue to drink and drive, eventually you will have to Pay, RIP Monika.
Britain's impotent justice system allows this to continue. The penalties for killing someone by drink driving, dangerous driving or drugged driving are pathetic and does absolutely zero to deter.
RIP Monika.
The maximum sentence changed a couple of years ago. Causing death by dangerous driving - Maximum: life imprisonment for offences committed after 28 June 2022; otherwise it's 14 years custody. With drink being a factor would put the offence in category A of the sentencing guidelines. As this offence took place before the change date the lower maximum applies.
@@Jb-tl1yi Life imprisonment!
Life imprisonment in the UK, triple killers released, THAT says it all about Life imprisonment UK style.
On the 19th April this year was out on my push bike when a car drove into me and sped off. I spent 3 weeks in hospital with a broken pelvis, a broken leg, torn muscles and some serious bruising. The pain indescribable. Now in a wheelchair for i don't know how many months, lost my job, can't get any financial support, nothing and now in debt and behind with bills. Incident caught on CCTV, full blame on the car for dangerous driving. The driver and car? Can't be traced. Number plate doesn't belong to the car it was on and the number plate was from a scrapped vehicle. Ok, i'm alive, unlike Monika, but the system does indeed suck and it's just not good enough.
@@tilerman So sorry to hear what happened to you man, reading this, my faith in the judicial system and just financial supports systems go down, cant you get a disability credit?
@@WarczysB Nothing, not a penny. Apparently my wife earns over the threshold that which makes us not eligible for any kind of support, and trust me, she doesn't earn much. I'm 59, been working since i was 14 and self employed since i was 23. I haven't stopped working and never once claimed a dime, ever. Always thought i was doing the right thing, i wished i hadn't bothered. I genuinely can't walk properly, and i can't sit down for long because of my injury but i am going to have to go to work, somehow. Without wanting to sound melodramatic, we are out of money, and now paying for basic shopping and bills on credit cards. How can this be.
Thank you for taking the time to make this important film.
This is what I don't understand, someone got 17 years + 21 yr driving ban for killing a mother and her child speeding and drink driving w/o any driving documents; but he gets 3 years? 7 years total.
These police have discovered what I have over many years. The Poles in general are special people. I have been to Poland many times now and love it.
Had a Polish guy as my mentor when studying to be a paramedic, lovely guy and incredibly knowledgeable.
That’s quite prejudicial. Or do you have supporting evidence of a sufficient sample size?
Well done and huge respect to Durham Constabulary for gaining justice for the victim and family. I have attended numerous RTC’s where lives have been lost and you carry the effects throughout your career and beyond, whether you are a Police officer, Paramedic or Firefighter. If only people would learn by the mistakes of others. RIP Monika.
First time in years I must admit WELL DONE POLICE, mad respect.
Well done Durham Constabulary. This is the standard of policing many of us need and require and frankly what should form the basis of all other UK policing, trustworthy, moral and honest decency. Very proud to have seen what you do, a very difficult job done professionally and with excellence.
He robbed her of a life so yes he should be convicted and sentence him again
Mrs Horner, I feel love for you as a human being. Thank you and all of your colleagues for keeping this world safer and more humane.
Feel sorry for the family, I myself almost lost my life 2 years ago, I was in the car driving but I do not remember anything I do not remember entering the car park or the car all I remember was shortly before was finishing my job and I am supposed to drive to my mom's and dad's place to have a lunch. The next thing I remember I woke up at hospital, not knowing what happened and how it happened, no witnesses, to daschams, not cctvs, police could not find the reason why it happened. There was another car involved but the other person was fine. My family was told to come to hospital to say goodbye. The doctors working on me have done amazing job, to the point of me returning to pretty much normal life, even though the doctors first thought I lost my eye and then that the injury to my brain will most likely cause me to be paralyzed, not able to speak or understand or recognise faces etc. I can walk, talk, understand, recognise faces I just lost 2 weeks of being in a coma, I mean I had some good "dream" but it did not feel like 2 weeks, more like 2 hours.
Good. The original sentence was an insult to Monika.
Thank you, Durham Constabulary.
Criminals treated better than victims constantly in this country it’s a disgrace
Well done to the Police for no giving up.
Huge thanks for the Durham Police doing a what must have been a harrowing job. Excellent work looking after the interests of the Lewandowska family.
All that effort, work and heartbreak to bring charges to that drunk killer only to have the court system let them down with a pathetic short prison term.
Only 7 years for a second offensive while banned and drunk? Absolutely pathetic.
Fantastic work Durham Constabulary. Good to see him bought to justice, even though true justice will never truly be served.
Well done to Durham Constabulary the team and Natalie and R.I.P Monika
I cannot imagine drinking and then thinking that I would be okay to even get in the drivers seat let alone drive it. Unbelievable people think they can get away with it.
This is so sad for the family of Monika and may she RIP, God bless her
Respect the family and Durham Constabulary . RIP Monika. To suffer that because of a selfish uncaring person is tragic. He should have been given a zero parole whole life sentence.
Congratulations to everyone involved... a job well done... condolences to the family
Hats off to the police.
I can never call someone 'a drunk driver'. They are 'drunks'. My 96 year-old beautiful, fit, clever, great granny was hit and dragged for 100 yards under the car of a drunk in broad daylight. Every single tragedy caused by a drunk brings me to tears even now. The victims' families hurt beyond imagination.
This particular drunk was also driving illegally.
I wish for zero tolerance. And very long prison time for all drunks who maim and kill others.
My thoughts are with Monika and her darling granny.
I hope both continue to thrive. ❤❤❤
This shows the truly awful things the emergency services have to cope with to serve us. True heroes one and all
Although this terrible incident is very sad the sentence given out by our UK judical system is weak and an insult to the poor lady who he killed he should have been given a life term in prison her surviving family have a life sentence without her dont they 😢
Absolutely unthinkable. Well done to the officers and love to the family ❤️
As new HGV I SEE WVERY 5 MINUTES SOMONE NOT CONCENTRATING on rheir surroundings . E mail , ear plugs, entertainment.
Peopel need to keep senses switched on when on public road and surroundings. 360 degrees. We have also too many illegal motorists, unfit drivers on road. And poor enforcement.
Your spelling and grammar are awful
So on good behavior he gets 3.5 years, (which he's already done) then his original sentence gets taken off? So does that mean he is being put behind for maybe a year tops?
It's hard to work out. He got 5 years at first = 60 months. Then, an additional 7 years and 8 months = 92 months. Minus 45 months served.
Did he get released early the first time? Will he get released earlier this time?
I wish they would say it as it is. 5 years should be 5 years exactly.
@@manichairdo9265 I disagree with how justice is done now. Prisons are full of everything on the outside
I cannot put into words how tragic this case is for Monika and her family. I am full of admiration for those officers involved in getting the offender convicted twice.
Amazing video, should be played to every child at school so they understand the importance of their decisions.
Rest in Peace Monika and best wishes to her family xx
God bless you. And thoughts to your family. Heartbreaking story.
Well done to all involved in this case.
Sad tragic incident my heart goes out to the family. Praise to all the cops who saw this through.
this sentence was decades too short for the grief he caused this family
what do you mean 4 years that deserves a life sentence what the fuck
Rest in peace monika.I will admit now that i had tears in my eyes listening and watching the video.Well done to the coppers who followed up the original incident linking both together and taking YET another drunk driver of our streets.
That sentence was ridiculous
Huge congratulations to the Durham police and the attorney general that was miles away from given👏👏
So so sad RIP Monika.
Its absolutely disgraceful the sentencing guidelines
The Driver Should Have Served The Ret Of His Life In. Prison.Not 3Plus Bloody Years.⚖️Was Not Served.🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬So Sad ,😥
Kev Salter was a star on Channel 5's "Police Interceptors". He has continued his police career as a detective now.
Well done for getting this second conviction to you and your team. I believe that Heslop should have been indefinitely disqualified from driving. He did it once, he will do it again. Let's make the life of this lady meaningful.
R.I.P Mr's Lewandowska. May you rest in peace.
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Kev Salter był gwiazdą programu „Police Interceptors” na Channel 5. Obecnie kontynuuje karierę policyjną jako detektyw.
Brawo za drugie skazanie Ciebie i Twojego zespołu. Uważam, że Heslop powinien zostać pozbawiony prawa jazdy na czas nieokreślony. Zrobił to raz, zrobi to ponownie. Sprawmy, aby życie tej pani miało sens.
R.I.P Pani Lewandowska. Niech spoczywa w pokoju.
So sad but it’s really great that the police helped so much.
welldone deepest respect
I was a regular drink-driver many years ago, eventually caught and banned. I thank the heavens that I didn't hurt anyone.
The officer that's female has an incredibly well-developed philosophy for the work she participates in. Very sad, but not unknown, to hear her say that there are very little positives that you come across in a police officer's career.
What a sad story. That second sentence was far too short imo.😢
The time served, shouldn’t have been deducted from the second sentence.
Outstanding Police Officers working within the confines of a flawed justice system. Heslop should be made to watch this video every day of his sentence - zero sympathy for him.
Shamefully inadequate sentence.
Imagine your job being dealing with idiots like this every time you go to work and having to remain calm and professional.
When you see news about an officer behaving badly, it's only newsworthy because it's unusual and just like drink drivers don't represent the majority of drivers, bad officers don't represent the majority of police.
May God bless you all
There should be a TOTAL BAN on any drinking alcohol before driving anyway. Some people are assholed after half a pint yet will probably pass a breathalyser
Well done Durham Constabulary and their roads policing team. I i find one comment about the feelings of the driver by the officer around a continuation of the prosecution incredible and unjustifiable
Respect.
Criminals should pay higher taxes, or repay the people effected.
Outrageous he has already done his time. Waste of time and money.
Fantastic job.
I am the other sort of driver: as soon as I get in my car, I enable the automatic speed limit recognition system, the speed limiter and adaptive cruise control. No matter where I’m driving, I keep my speed down and on the motorway, I set my speed to 56 and stay in the left hand lane.
As an outsider looking “in” at all the dangerous idiots tailgating and road raging in the fast lane (usually at ridiculous speeds) I realise just how big of a problem we have in this country with reckless and aggressive drivers and I always think to myself: “if they drive like that normally, what the hell are they like with a few drinks inside them?!!”
I usually have my daughter in the car with me and sticking to the left hand lane is - I feel - the only way I can keep us both safe from the idiots.
This video is not about you. Stop bragging about yourself 🙄🙄🙄
Being more observational will make you safer than any reduction in speed.
56mph on motorway you accident waiting for hgv thsts not safe you tool
Sgt salter looks much different with no hair always respected him as a cop .
Well done for getting this persons punishment to maximum. So sad..
What was he in prison for ?
STOP ALLOWING THESE DANGEROUS PEOPLE ONTO OUR STREETS. PROTECT THE PUBLIC PEOPLE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Alcohol is a blight on society .
This could easily be stopped by fitting alcohol air detector combined with the seat weight sensors. Only 1 seat occupied and alcohol detected should equal automatic police notification. It's a very cheap device.
At the end of the day his sentence was not that great for what he did. It wasn't his first time in jail either. Good on Durham Constabulary for taking the matter as far as they could. but I would have thought an extra 7 yrs or so on top of what he had served would have been more appropriate.
How come they cannot make cars that will only start if they are legal. Fingerprint reader etc.
FairPlay to cops - our kid’s an inspector - but sentencing is still a joke. Hislop should be locked up for a long time
Great police work let down by the justice system. Absolute joke of a sentence!
10YEARS JAIL LIFE TIME BAN TAG FOR 5 YEARS
Life,Life. Rest Of His Life.⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️
still not long enough, she had to endure being a veg for 6 years or so, whilst that bugger got away with 10 years of his life. UK justice system really does not make any sense to me
Its just not worth the risk, the devastation ripples out to mamy people. And its avoidable. Drink OR drive.
My heart goes out to Monika, her family and the police officers who had to deal with this incident. The law should be changed, anyone who is caught either drink/drug driving or seen using a mobile phone whilst driving should be given a lengthy prison sentence and a lifetime driving ban. That way they might sit up and think I've not just ruined my life but the victims lives too. I will have to live with this it's all my own fault for doing what I did.
RIP Monika ❤🙏❤🙏❤
I know that area of Darlington well. Takes some doing to turn off Gladstone street and end up in that position. Poor Lass 😢
The police done good by the victims family here.
Kev salta wow, it has been a while
6:43 - I don't personally understand how you would 'feel for him' after that....
Ye, very surprised to hear that, doesn't deserve any sympathy at all.
Don't criticise the police
Powerful video hopefully people get the message! Sentence is a joke as usual in UK. Rip Monika❤
As bad this may sound, this is why under any circumstances you should always be aware of your surroundings.
That very much sounds like victim blaming. Monika was struck by the car approximately 18m from the junction of Gladstone Street and Easson Road. If we accept the evidence that the car was travelling at 40 mph at the time of the collision then that equates to 1 second between the car entering Easson Road and Monika being struck. Being aware of her surroundings would not have saved her.
Best Police Force in uk
I don’t think this is totally fair or just.
To come back a second time you mean?
@@Redsnapper123 iThere is an element where it becomes unfair because it’s a persecution instead of a prosecution. The intent was not to kill somebody and you get to point where you have to ask yourself is this really fair? Of course I might be open to the idea that the initial sentence should have been longer.
😢🏴🌹
🕊️
If they would ban alcohol, many lives would be saved
If they would ban cars, many lives would be saved
@@oldbatwit5102 if we ban humans............
@@oldbatwit5102 If they would ban lives, many lives would be saved
i got 1 word for you and it's the US prohibition of the 1920s
@@JohnsonTheSecondhow’s that one word dude?😂
Most of the contact ive hsd with police theyve acted like tw8ts but we only see docs that put them in a good light.
He got an extra 3 and a half years after its all done and said then realistically hell serve half that, so an extra year and a bit for all this work i mean i get the thought behind it but seriously investigate actual crimes today not ones thays been through the courts and nal 😂 iv had police tell me theres nothing they can do but they can do this? I dunno jusy find it abit of a publicity stunt like almost look how good we are 😂 rip to the girl who lost her life tho
The Police did a great job here but the justice system is broke. He is only going to do another 3 years! He has ended someone's life, a mother, a daughter. They have to live in pain for the rest of their lives. He got into a car with no insurance, no licence and was drunk. He should serve a minimum of 25 years! It's a joke that he will be roaming the streets again in a few years.
This is a criminal outrage.he as been charged, he's done his sentence and that' should be the end of the matter,,, outrageous being arrested again and changed with another crime related to the first sentence absolutely outrageous release this man today... This isn't justice this is outrageous
I agree!
a re offender doing illegal things the second hes released should never be a free man
He got off very lightly, hopefully this will change him for the better, so his whole life isn't a waste. But, he will likely revert to type.
I'll likely be unpopular here..... at what point are our police doing this for propaganda and their own interests? Durham Constabulary appear to be somewhat clouded in their judgement about remaining impartial and establishing truth, or is emotional blackmail part of policing now? There's a staute of limitations in most cases. He was apprehended, admitted it, and was imprisioned under due process in a timely manner at the time. This in no way condones Heslop's actions. Although I question mentioning his lack of insurance-anyone released from jail is effectively uninsurable, certainly if your earning a legitamate wage, so why bother with a licence? A catch 22 the law ignores. But.... if we can retrospectively prosecute grown adults who acted with gross negligence and whos negligence killed people... well theres 97 familes from Hillsborough who would no doubt be very interested in this new stance. Observing, even Heslop had the glimmer of decency to plead guilty not add conspiracy and perjury to a blotted copy book. Our law is damaged enough without engaging in emotional blackmail. Rip Monika and condolences to Poland.
He could hardly plead 'Not Guilty' could he? And, if it's to hard to get a licence or insurance, guess what, don't bloody drive a car! I haven't got a pilot's licence which is why I don't get pissed and fly a 747 into your house...
I admire you for having put an alternative point of view which is always valuable if it makes people think. Having thought I disagree with you for the following reasons -
- calling it propaganda and emotional blackmail is extremely subjective and just your interpretation. The death of an innocent pedestrian is emotive and emotional. Calling anything stemming from that 'emotional blackmail' seems odd to my mind.
- there is no statute of limitations in UK law apart from very minor offences.
- your point about not being able to get insurance may be true but is a reason to not drive not an excuse to drive without insurance. Same with your comment about 'why bother with a license?' although there is a disconnect between the two so I'm not sure what you meant there. Insurance and license are different things. It is anyway looking to sideline annoying restrictions on your life by just ignoring the law and blaming the law rather than your own actions. So it is not in my opinion a Catch 22 that the law ignores. It is a natural consequence of the law. I set off a speed camera last year going 35mph in a 30mph stretch. My insurance policy the following year was much higher as a consequence. Following your logic I should maybe have just not bothered getting insurance because the law had made it too expensive for me.
- he did well to plead guilty, I agree. But calling all the things he has done and the lives he has taken or permanently damaged 'a blotted copy book' trivialises his record somewhat. He's not a shop lifter.
Common throughout your post is the general idea of not taking personal responsibility for your actions, looking to blame outside forces for what you have done and assigning negative motives to those enforcing the law.
As the police always say it's rules for thee but not for we!
She died as a result of his actions, if it had happened straight away the charge would have been more serious to begin with. Pretty sure this has happened in other cases, GBH or attempted murder to murder at a later date on the death of the victim. What emotional blackmail?
@@ivorkutyaleggov1156of course he could he already been to jail for it.