Mum’s ‘worst nightmare’ after son, 7, killed in crash as man is jailed

Jack Rooke’s killer was sentenced to prison this week

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A heartbroken mum says she will “never be who I used to be” after her seven-year-old son was killed by a driver.

Nathan Shaw, of Tudor Street, Huddersfield, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday for driving offences following the death of little Jack Rooke in Golcar on August 30, 2023.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to causing Jack’s death while driving a BMW X4 without insurance and two counts of perverting the course of justice. Shaw was sentenced to 42 months in prison and was also disqualified from driving for 57 months, reports Yorkshire Live.

In a victim personal statement, Jack’s mother said each day was a struggle without her beautiful and loving boy and that her life had been wrecked by his death. She also described the massive impact Jack’s loss had on his sisters , including Mya who had lost her best friend.

She said: “I can’t accept that Jack has gone and I never will. I replay his funeral, me having to carry my little boy in a coffin.

“Looking at him in the chapel of rest wanting and wishing him to open his eyes.

“Travelling in the ambulance with Jack, seeing the paramedics trying to save his life, then been told that he had gone, is a parent’s worst nightmare that on one should have to go through. Leaving the hospital without them having to tell your other children.

“How will I navigate that and deal with it for the rest of my life? However, I have to for the sake of my other children, but it is hard. It’s hard to parent when you have been killed inside, I will never be who I used to be.”

Emergency services were called to Longfield Avenue in Golcar at about 6pm on August 30 after a BMW X4 driven by Shaw hit Jack. Jack was given emergency treatment but sadly died a short time later.

Shaw was arrested at the scene and later charged following an in-depth investigation into the circumstances of the collision by the Major Collision Enquiry Team (MCET). Detective Sergeant Nina Roper of MCET, who led the investigation, said: “The death of Jack has been an absolute tragedy for his family as his mother’s victim family statement so movingly illustrates.

“The loss of such a loving and happy boy at such a young age has clearly been absolutely devastating, and the scale of their loss is hard for many of us to comprehend.

“Our thoughts continue to remain with them following the sentencing of Nathan Shaw today.”