Natalie Glasgow campaign to feature in TV documentary

8:38am Wednesday 23rd May 2007

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THE parents of a Loughton teenager who died in a hit-and-run accident which left her best friend fighting for her life feature in a BBC documentary on Friday as they continue their fight for a change in the law.

Natalie Glasgow, 17, died and Stephanie Taylor was seriously injured after they were hit by a van as they walked home along unlit Earls Path, Loughton, after a night out two years ago.

Van driver Mark Hambleton was sentenced to 100 hours community service after admitting dangerous driving, but the charge did not relate to the collision but for driving off without lights afterwards.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to suggest Hambleton had been driving dangerously when he hit the girls.

Stephanie, who suffered serious head injuries, tells the programme: "I just didn't think anyone could get that for killing my best friend and leaving me for dead.

"It just doesn't seem right. It feels like a dream.

"I feel like he should be in prison for what he did to me."

Natalie's parents, Paul and Tracey, of Danbury Road, are running the Lead the Way Natalie campaign which demands tougher sentences for drivers who leave the scene of an accident with a minimum five-year sentence for any hit-and-run driver and a minimum ten-year term should the victim die.

Paul Glasgow tells the programme: "It was actually said to me, Tracey, other members of the family by a police officer if you wish to commit murder in this country don't shoot them, don't stab them, hit them with your car and run away, stay away as long as you possibly can because when we catch you we can't do anything about it. In my view he (Hambleton) got away with murder."

At the time of the accident Natalie and Stephanie were on a hairdressing course at Harlow College having left Roding Valley High School where a special award is now presented annually in Natalie's memory.

Crash: One Fatal Day on the Roads is on BBC One at 7pm on Friday. The Glasgows have extended the deadline for the return of their petitions until July 1.

l For more details, visit www.leadthewaynatalie.org.uk