Furious family of 15-year-old boy killed by speeding driver criticizes ten-year jail sentence in Stock Essex as a shocking miscarriage of justice

A quiet morning in Stock, Essex, turned into a nightmare on November 3, 2023, when 15-year-old Freddie Coleman was killed while walking to school.

What should have been an ordinary school day ended in heartbreak when a speeding driver lost control and struck Freddie, throwing him into the path of an oncoming van.

His friend, who was walking alongside him, survived but suffered life-changing injuries.

Reckless Speed Behind the Crash

The driver, 26-year-old Stephen Mahebadevan, was traveling at 67mph in a 30mph zone.

Witnesses described him as “flying down the road like a missile,” tearing around a bend and mounting the footpath where the teenagers were walking.

The chaos left emergency services unable to save Freddie, who tragically died at the scene, while his friend suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to have a kidney removed.

Courtroom Shock Over Lenient Sentence

Mahebadevan faced Chelmsford Crown Court, admitting to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury.

Judge Mary Loram KC handed down a ten-year prison term—a sentence that drew gasps and anger from Freddie’s family and members of the public.

The judge highlighted the shocking behavior of Mahebadevan, who had filed an insurance claim three days after the crash, falsely blaming a bus for the accident.

“Your speed was, on any analysis, significantly in excess of the limit,” the judge said, describing the crash as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”

She emphasized that the tragic outcome was not the result of a lapse or an external factor, but the direct consequence of Mahebadevan’s choice to drive recklessly.

Family Reacts With Anger and Grief

Members of Freddie’s family were visibly upset in court.

One shouted that the sentence was “a f****** joke.”

His mother, Jo Coleman, described the day of the accident as “the darkest day of my life,” recalling the harrowing moment she saw her son in the mortuary.

She shared the devastating impact on the entire family, saying, “I can’t see any of us ever getting over this.”

Freddie’s friend, whose identity is protected, also shared his trauma in a statement read in court, saying, “The visible scars you left on my body are a constant reminder of what you did to me. It’s something I cannot escape.”

Legal Perspective and Wider Implications

Under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, causing death by dangerous driving can carry a life sentence, with the most serious cases ranging from eight to 18 years.

Before the law changed, the maximum sentence was 14 years. Mahebadevan was also given a concurrent four-year sentence for the serious injury he caused to Freddie’s friend and received a 13-year driving ban.

Detective Sergeant Sam Nason, who led the investigation, praised the families’ patience and dignity, stating, “No prison sentence will ever bring Freddie back, but my hope is that it may help provide a degree of justice and answers for his family.”

The Human Cost of Recklessness

Freddie was described by his family as a kind, happy, and funny boy who was deeply loved by everyone around him.

The tragedy has left a lasting scar on the community, reminding everyone of the dangers of dangerous driving and the irreversible impact it can have on families.

The delivery driver whose van struck Freddie added another layer to the tragedy, having done everything he could to help at the scene.

Judge Loram ensured he was recognized in court as another person affected by the accident, showing how a single reckless choice rippled through so many lives.

What’s Next?

While justice has been served in court, Freddie’s family continues to grieve.

The case has sparked conversations about road safety, sentencing guidelines, and the responsibilities of drivers.

For the community of Stock, Essex, and beyond, the hope is that this tragic story serves as a warning and a call to action to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Summary

15-year-old Freddie Coleman was tragically killed in Essex after a driver traveling more than twice the speed limit mounted a footpath, causing fatal injuries.

The driver, Stephen Mahebadevan, was sentenced to ten years in prison—a sentence that outraged the boy’s family.

The case highlighted reckless driving, insurance deception, and the devastating human impact on victims and their families, sparking wider discussions about road safety and justice.