The family of a pensioner killed by a drug driver as he crossed a road in broad daylight have condemned his "lenient" jail sentence. Jamie Sutton, 30, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday (August 19) after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving and drug driving. He was also banned from driving for five years.
Fatal collision in Cliftonville
Sutton ploughed into Michael Piper as he crossed the road in Cliftonville, Kent, in April 2024. Mr Piper, 79, suffered devastating injuries and died from complications in February 2025. CCTV footage shows the moment Sutton hits Mr Piper from behind the wheel of a grey Audi as the pensioner crosses Northdown Road at 11am on April 18, 2024.
Mr Piper was sent flying into the air before crashing onto the road. Sutton, who had taken cannabis, was arrested at the scene.
Family seeks review of sentence
Mr Piper's "disgusted" family agreed to share the CCTV video in full to highlight the "lenient" sentence, which could see Sutton, of Northdown Road, Margate, released within 18 months. His sister, Ann Mabb, told KentOnline the family were seeking to refer the sentence to the Attorney General as being unduly lenient.
She said: "We are disgusted. It’s terrible. He should have got six years, 10 years, not three-and-a-half."
Police response
Sgt Luke Olsen from Kent Police said: "This was a devastating case, where a driver’s poor judgement and irresponsible behaviour under the influence of drugs have ultimately resulted in the loss of a much-loved man’s life."
He added: "Throughout the investigation, officers remained committed to securing evidence to bring the offender before the courts to be held to account. Thanks to their meticulous work, investigators were able to demonstrate the full consequences of Sutton's actions and secure his conviction. It’s right that he is behind bars."
