Prosecutors want longer sentence for driver who killed teen

Prosecutors are appealing the “unduly lenient” sentence of a hit-and-run driver who left a teenager dying on the road.

Shaun Gatti, 21, was jailed for five years and three months after killing 15-year-old Robyn Fryar.

Robyn’s parents branded the prison term “outrageous and unjust” in an interview with STV News shortly after the sentencing.

Gatti been drinking at a nightclub in Paisley before knocking her down in the Renfrewshire town on July 7, 2019.

The teenager, who was struck as she crossed a road with friends around 2am, died hours later from her injuries.

Gatti fled the scene with a friend in his Volkswagen Golf and attempted to cover up his involvement by cleaning his car, hiding it under tarpaulin and removing its registration plates.

However, he was soon snared after an anonymous tip-off to police.

Gatti was sentenced to five years and three months in prison in July after admitting attempting to pervert the course of justice and causing the teenager’s death by dangerous driving.

He was also banned from the roads for 11 years and seven months.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed a note of appeal had been lodged.

Paisley MSP George Adam said it was a “step in the right direction” following an online petition signed by thousands of people.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: “For me and for many of the people in Paisley that have approached me already about this case, it is a step in the right direction. It’s a first step, but a step in the right direction.

“It gives us a wee bit of hope that we will be able to get some justice for this family.”

Robyn’s parents, Iain Fryar and Cheryl Madden, told STV News at the time of the sentencing that they did not feel justice had been served.

Mr Fryar said he did not expect the sentence to be “so short”.

He added: “A judge decides to give him a few years in prison. If that’s justice, I don’t know what justice is.

“It’s like Robyn was insignificant and meant nothing.

“He can now go on and know he’s going to be out. We have got to live in this hell for the rest of our lives.

“We can only visit our daughter at the cemetery. I know he’s incarcerated, but he’s still got a life to look forward to. My daughter never got a life to look forward to.”

Club: Shaun Gatti was drinking before the fatal incident.

Gatti, who had been captured on CCTV drinking out of a cocktail ‘fish bowl’ at Paisley’s Vienna nightclub before the fatal incident, was traced too late by police to have a drink-driving sample taken.

However, police estimated he was driving at up to 47mph in a 30mph zone at the time of the incident. He was also on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Fryar said his “heart left” him when he was told the police were coming to pick him up following the incident.

He said: “You always think that these things happen to other people. You don’t ever expect you to get that phone call.”