Driver who fled to Latvia after killing schoolboy jailed

A speeding driver who fled to Latvia after killing a 12-year-old boy when he hit him at more than 70mph has been jailed.

Aleksanders Dolars evaded capture for Keaton Slater's death for more than two years because there was no extradition treaty between Latvia and the UK post-Brexit.

He was finally brought to justice in August this year when he was brought to England to appear at Warwick Crown Court following a determined campaign by Keaton's parents.

Dolars, 23, was jailed for nine years and four months by Judge Kristina Montgomery KC who told him: "Your selfish and dangerous driving took his life."

The court heard Dolars had been driving at 75-76mph in a 30mph zone when he struck the schoolboy in Coventry, killing him instantly.

Keaton, a devoted Coventry City fan, was travelling home from school with friends on 14 June, 2024, and had just got off a bus.

He had stepped out onto Radford Road and prepared to cross but the court heard he would not have seen Dolars' BMW at that time.

As it approached him he attempted to run out of its way with no success.

Dolars, who bowed his head throughout the hearing, did not stop and fled to his native Latvia within days.

The hearing also heard statements from Keaton's brothers, Kai and Josh.

"Losing Keaton has left a space in my heart that can never be filled," Kai said.

"Keaton's death didn't just take away my little brother - I'll never get to see the man he would be.

"Knowing that someone could leave the scene after what happened, I will never understand."

Josh, Keaton's half brother, said he "struggled to comprehend" what happened and was angry Keaton had been taken away.

"The defendant has left a trail of destruction that cannot be repaired and will be with us forever," he said.

Sentencing Dolars, the judge told him: "You must have known you had struck a pedestrian.

"You must have realised he would have been gravely injured."

She also said it was clearly not a "momentary lapse of attention" because immediately before he had been seen cutting in front of cars by using the wrong lane at traffic lights.

Speaking after they left court, the family said they were unhappy with the sentence Aleksanders Dolars received.

"They gave him the maximum they could but it's not enough is it?" his father said.

Louise said that as Dolars would only serve two thirds of his sentence in prison, he would be out in six years.

"I know afterwards he can't drive," she added. "That's good to know - he's not going to be on the roads doing it to another family.

"To be in prison for six years, I think he should've got longer. My baby only had 12 years on this planet."