On 1st November last year Stephen Passey of Wideopen Newcastle was drink driving and he hit a pedestrian, 19yr old Jamie Slesser, a student in Newcastle.  Passey drove with Jamie on his bonnet for 50 meters, he then thought he had shook Jamie off but Jamie was trapped under the car, Passey continued driving for 200 meters dragging Jamie under the car.  When Passey realised Jamie was still attached to the car he pulled over, and had to reverse off Jamie's body to get away at high speed, leaving Jamie for dead.

Jamie was rushed to Newcastle's RVI hospital where he had immediate brain surgery.  He spent the following 2 weeks in intensive care where his parents were told to prepare for the worst.  Jamie survived but spent the next 6 months in hospital having further brain surgery and multiple skin grafts all over his body.  Jamie had no swallow or speech until March of this year.  He has also been left with permanent brain damage and is still and will be for the foreseeable future having rehabilitation therapies.  He also still has other surgeries to undergo in the future.   Jamie was a budding university student studying journalism and had his whole future taken away from him.

At sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court in August Stephen Passey was convicted of dangerous driving and was sentenced to 10 months in Stockton Prison.  Yesterday Jamie's family were informed that Passey has been approved for early release on 29 October, he will have served just over 2 months. 

This is not acceptable, what kind of deterent is this?  He drink drove, dragged Jamie causing horrific injuries and then chose to leave him to die in the road....2 months is an insult to justice and an insult to Jamie.

It breaks our hearts to see what Jamie has gone through over the last 12 months, we are so proud of how he has handled everything with dignity and courage.  Please help us bring as much public attention to this insult to Justice as possible, if enough public attention is given then we may be able to stop the early release.  Please ring/email your local MP and get them to contact Stockton Prison or the Home Office.

We have had a very hard/difficult year and don't see it changing for a long time yet....we are Jamie's parents, please help us and help Jamie, please stand up for Jamie and Justice by sharing and doing what you can to stop this release.   Thank you xxx

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