'We'll never forgive the driver who killed Fred'

The parents of a schoolboy who was fatally struck by a speeding driver have said they will never forgive their son's killer.

Freddie Coleman, 15, was walking to a bus stop in Stock, Essex, when a car driven at 67mph (105km/h) ploughed into him on 3 November 2023.

The Mayflower High School pupil's killer, 26-year-old Stephen Mahebadevan, was jailed for 10 years in February.

Freddie's mother, Jo Coleman, told the BBC: "He's never shown any remorse, and that's one thing I wanted more than anything."

Mahebadevan was driving at double the speed limit in Stock Road when he mounted the pavement and hit Freddie and his friend, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Three days later, he lied in an insurance claim by saying his car had been damaged by a bus or a lorry.

"He never once looked at me and said, 'I'm sorry for what I've done'," said Jo, 53.

"It was like we didn't matter. I'll never forgive him."

Freddie's father, Jason Coleman, added: "He's put so many people's lives through hell in the past two years and four months.

"He could have just stuck to the speed limit and this wouldn't have ever happened."

Mahebadevan, of Orford Crescent, Chelmsford, admitted causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving at Chelmsford Crown Court in January.

Such was the force of his Suzuki Swift, Freddie was knocked into the opposite carriageway and hit by an oncoming van at 08:20 GMT.

Jo heard sirens from the nearby family home and was told there had been an accident by Freddie's younger sister, Hazel.

The 15-year-old had been on her way to school and began fearing the worst when Freddie did not answer her phone calls.

"I started crying on the bus. I asked my friend if he was in assembly and she was like, 'No, he's not'," said Hazel, who was 12 at the time.

Jason, 51, who rushed to the scene from work, added: "I saw him just lying there with his phone next to him [and] his shoes were 10 yards down the road."

The family said they had been "completely wrecked" by Freddie's death.

They each described Mahebadevan's speed as either "crazy", "unbelievable" or "shocking".

Jo said she hated the bus stop Freddie used that morning as "the pavement is so narrow and everybody drives like lunatics".

She continued: "I watched him walk across our driveway... But I didn't get up and shout out the window.

"I really wish I had done."

The parents said Freddie was looking forward to his school prom and wanted to get an electrician apprenticeship post-Year 11.

They described him as a "lovely boy" who was enjoying the idyllic village life he was growing up in.

"There's not a single person in the village that had a bad word against him," Jo said.

Hazel added: "He was a little bit of a mischievous boy here and there, but isn't everyone?

"I miss our banter because it's a bit boring now. I do find myself lonely here and there.

"But I love talking about Freddie and I love keeping his memory alive."

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