Anne Sacoolas avoids jail over Harry Dunn death

The mother of motorcyclist Harry Dunn broke down in court as her teenage son's killer avoided jail after a three-year fight for justice.

US citizen Anne Sacoolas, 45, declined to come to the Old Bailey in person on Thursday when she was handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months for causing the 19-year-old's death by careless driving.

Earlier, Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles had said she was left "absolutely fuming" on learning the US government had advised Sacoolas not to travel to the UK to face justice, making the sentence effectively unenforceable.

• Anne Sacoolas no-show 'incredibly disappointing', Harry Dunn's mother says
• US government advises Anne Sacoolas not to attend Harry Dunn sentencing hearing
• Harry Dunn's parents recall 'emotional' first court encounter with Anne Sacoolas

Speaking in a packed Court One of the Old Bailey, Mrs Charles wept as she said: "Harry just disappeared out of my life that night, shattering my existence forever.

"His passing haunts me every minute of every day and I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get over it.

"I made a promise to Harry in the hospital that we would get him justice and a mother never breaks a promise to her son."

Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Sacoolas outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, on 27 August 2019.

In her sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb paid tribute to the Dunn family.

She told Sacoolas by remote link: "There is no doubt that the calm and dignified persistence of these parents and family of that young man has led through three years of heartbreak and effort to your appearance before this court and acknowledge your guilt."

The judge said Mr Dunn's death was the "highest degree of harm" but added: "I bear in mind this was a short period of driving and you were not familiar with English roads.

"I accept you feel genuine remorse."

She told Sacoolas that while she was in the US, the sentence could not be enforced.

The mother of three was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US government and was able to leave the UK 19 days after the incident.

In October, she appeared in court by video link from the US to plead guilty to causing Mr Dunn's death by careless driving.

Sacoolas wiped away tears as she attended her sentencing on Thursday, remotely, from her lawyer's office in Washington DC once again.

In mitigation, her lawyer Ben Cooper KC read a statement on her behalf in which she said she was "deeply sorry for the pain I have caused".

He said Sacoolas had been subjected to death threats via email and telephone and her family had been forced to relocate.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he hoped the judgment "provides some closure" to Harry Dunn's family and that the Government had "learnt important lessons" around exemptions from diplomatic immunity.