A CREDITON man who admitted causing the death of 10-year-old Samuel Crocker in a hit-and-run collision in Crediton in February has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Cameron Trivett (24), of Mill Street, Crediton, was driving too fast and was over the drink drive limit when the van he was driving hit Samuel as he crossed the road at Threshers in the town.

Trivett drove off and left the boy injured in the road, two hours later handing himself in to the police.

Appearing at Exeter Crown Court, Trivett admitted causing death by careless driving while unfit

Earlier in the day local people had seen Trivett driving erratically and mounting a pavement.

A passenger with him had told him to slow down shortly before the accident, the court was told.

During the hearing, Samuel Crocker’s mother told the court: “I find it difficult to see children walk past our house to school.”

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, said Trivett had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol the night before and during the morning of the accident.

He said: “You drove despite a warning from a friend that you were drunk and should not drive.

“Your passenger warned you to slow down because you were driving too fast in a built up area and were seen travelling at an inappropriate speed.”

He said he was driving too fast when he hit Samuel, who was on his way to a friend’s house to see a puppy and walked between two parked cars.

He added: “You were not seen to brake and drove away at inappropriate speed.”

There has been disquiet in the town and further afield about the short length of sentence imposed but during the court case the judge said: “I appreciate this sentence may be seen by some as wholly inadequate but unfortunately I am bound by sentencing guidelines.”

Trivett was said to have been seen drinking two pints of cider, two or three gin and tonics and a share of six shots of Jagermeister at about 10.30am in the General Sir Redvers Buller pub in Crediton during the same morning as the day of the accident.

Witnesses who saw the van being driven that day said they were alarmed at the speed of the vehicle, said Trivett made no attempt to stop before or after the impact, others describing Trivett’s driving as ridiculous.

Some people said they had seen him doing “handbrake turns” on local roads previously.

Police confirmed that Trivett had been cautioned a few months earlier after an incident where a jogger was forced into a hedge.

Calculations of Trivett’s blood alcohol level were estimated at 50 per cent over the limit of 35 microgrammes.

Samuel died following the collision with the van shortly before 1.35pm on Saturday, February 28.

Police appealed for any witnesses who had seen a white Vauxhall combo van being driven between Crediton and Morchard Road along the A377 at or around the time to get in touch.

Samuel’s funeral service was held at Crediton Parish Church where an act of remembrance also took place shortly after the accident.

Floral tributes were left at the accident scene and his fellow pupils at Landscore Primary School were offered counselling and support and held their own acts of remembrance.

Fundraising and donations has raised more than £16,279 in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust in memory of Samuel.

Donations are still being accepted and people can do so via the website: www.justgiving.com/SparkleforSamuel .

More than 550 donations have been made on-line and the amount currently stands at more than £16,200. It originally had a target of £750.

Recently Crediton Town Council has considered a donation towards a memorial in memory of Samuel, a seat at Landscore Primary School.

Lisa Crocker, Samuel’s aunt, a police community support officer, was one of the first people called to the accident scene on February 28 and she discovered that the victim was her young nephew.

This week Lisa announced that she intends to run the 13.1 mile Great West Run in Exeter in memory of her nephew on October 19.

Lisa has a virginmoneygiving.com page where people can make donations.