A petition set up by the uncle of a toddler left permanently brain damaged by a driver on his mobile phone has reached 120,000 signatures.
Nikunj Patel, 32, from Harrow started the petition in response to a “lenient” verdict given to Ben Etheridge, 23, who caused his nephew, Kai Khetani, severe brain damage in August 2016.
Kai was two when was crossing Kenton Road in Harrow with his grandfather, Shivji Patel, when Etheridge him them with his car. It left the little boy with fractures to his hips and legs and he was placed on life support at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, where he remained until September. He was discharged in October severely brain damaged and now requires round-the-clock care.
Shivji had a broken shoulder, ankle and head injuries.
Etheridge pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Harrow crown Court on October 5, 2017. He was sentenced on March 23, this year.
Kai’s uncle, Nikunj, and his family have set up an online petition to persuade the government to debate sentencing laws for dangerous driving.
The petition has received more than 120,000 signatures.
Nikunj said: “The only way to create awareness was to start a petition to get the law changed. The law is very lenient towards drivers if you are caught on your phone.”
“But if you are out on the street and you stab someone you get a custodial sentence. What is the difference? You ruin someone’s life.”
