A mother of three who destroyed evidence after her brother struck a young child with a motorbike and fled has been told her nine-month prison sentence will stand.
Cara Haran, 25, had sought permission from the Court of Appeal to challenge her sentence, with her barrister Frank Dillon arguing the term was “manifestly excessive” and should have been suspended.
The original offence
Haran’s brother, Kaylem Longhurst, hit six-year-old Arlo Buckley with his motorbike in Shotton, Flintshire, on 11 September 2024 before leaving the scene. The boy was taken to hospital with multiple injuries.
Haran subsequently burned Longhurst’s clothing as part of what prosecutors described as a conspiracy, to which she pleaded guilty. She received a nine-month custodial sentence.
Appeal arguments
Dillon, representing Haran via videolink, told the court several mitigating factors had not been properly weighed. These included her previous good character, steps she had taken to address substance abuse, an improved living situation, and what he described as “genuine remorse.”
He further argued that the guidelines for suspending the sentence fell “very much in her favour,” pointing to her low risk of reoffending and the effect imprisonment would have on her three young children.
The ruling
Justice Saini was unconvinced, finding that the original sentencing judge had “correctly applied” the guidelines while “making a generous discount down.” He concluded the judge had not “fallen into error.”
On the question of Haran’s children, Justice Saini noted they “were of an age where they had been accommodated without huge disruption,” with family members providing care rather than the children entering the care system.
He added that the mitigation put forward had already been “taken into account properly” and reflected in the reduced sentence Haran received.
Permission to appeal was refused, with Justice Saini describing the offence as “serious… and distressing.”
Family reaction
Arlo’s father, Danny Buckley, said he was “happy and relieved” that the appeal would not proceed.
