THE heartbroken mum of a “beautiful” woman killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Day has revealed the tragic last message she sent her daughter.
Lillie Clack was just 22 when she was killed in the 120mph fireball crash – with her mum Debbie speaking of her heartache.
Debbie ClackLillie Clack was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Day 2021[/caption]
Debbie ClackHer mother Debbie Clack has sat by Lillie’s grave every single day since her death[/caption]
Debbie ClackLillie was a ‘gift’ to Debbie after she was widowed by first husband, Neil[/caption]
The mum says that “apart from breathing”, she will spend the rest of her days at her daughter’s “forever bed” fighting for justice.
The 53-year-old told The Sun: “I don’t want to be anywhere else. I can’t do normality anymore.
“My normal now is sitting at my daughter’s graveside. My life is gone. My little girl is gone.”
Tearful Debbie revealed the last time she had spoken to her daughter, who had been out with friends on Christmas Eve.
That night, Lillie had planned to head to a bar with pals – but had left her ID at the family home in Morden, South London.
“She rang me in tears, she said they won’t let me in the Ice bar without it”, Debbie recalled.
“I said: ‘You know what Lil, you ain’t meant to go in the Ice Bar, something’s gonna happen tonight, stay away and make your way home’.”
The last thing Debbie said to Lillie was “I love you” over Facetime before texting her to say: ‘Don’t spoil Christmas, come home’.
But tragically, Lillie, Jack, best friend Delia Casey and another pal headed to a Morden pub.
While there, they were joined by Charlie Hilton – a 25-yer-old who had a string of drink driving offences.
‘BEGGED, SCREAMED AND CRIED’
As the group left, Hilton offered the group of pals a lift in his mum’s Mercedes.
Debbie said: “As you do when you’re 22 and you’re tipsy and it’s pissing down with rain and you’re an hour late, you accept a lift.
“You don’t say to the driver have you been drinking today.”
According to police, Hilton wheelspinned in front of a patrol car which put on its blue lights and followed.
“They said stop, police are behind you”, Debbie said.
The driver pulled in but as an officer got out the car Hilton “made the worst decision of his life”, tearing off and triggering a police pursuit.
Travelling at speeds of up to 120mph, passengers in the car recall how Lillie “begged, screamed and cried” to get out but Hilton didn’t pull over.
Hilton, travelling faster and faster, tore 10 miles through Morden and eventually lost the police.
Four minutes later, in the early hours of December 25, the car ploughed into a tree – bursting into flames.
KNOCK AT THE DOOR
Residents in Carshalton Beeches grabbed fire extinguishers and rushed to help as emergency services raced to the scene.
Debbie recalled: “I got a knock on the door at 2.45am by the same police officer that chased my daughter two hours before. He didn’t know it was to do with the same crash.
“When we got to the hospital [St George’s, in Tooting] they told me I have to prepare myself for the worst.”
Lillie had suffered catastrophic injuries and was brain dead by the time she got to hospital – she died three days later.
The smash – which left Jack Watson, Delia Casey and another passenger badly hurt – was two roads over from the street Lillie was born on.
To the total disbelief of her family, Hilton came out of hospital and was allowed to continue driving for a whole year.
He finally appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court in January 2023 and had his driving licence suspended before the case went to The Old Bailey the same month.
The court heard how Hilton, who lived on a caravan park in Tadworth, Surrey, was over the drink-drive limit and had overloaded the car with five passengers.
I leave a light on in the hallway and a light on in her bedroom so she knows where to come
Debbie Clack
It was revealed he had 11 previous convictions, including for motoring offences, and had been jailed for 10 months for possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance.
He finally pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit.
But Debbie blasted: “He has no remorse”.
Now, Lillie’s room has been kept exactly how she left it, with her bag in the same place she dropped it the day she died.
Speaking through tears, Debbie said: “No one’s allowed in there, I go in every single day and light a candle.
“I leave a light on in the hallway and a light on in her bedroom so she knows where to come. I don’t know if that’s a little bit of denial, but it gets me through another day.”
Daily life is a struggle and the mum admits that even the sight of a White VW Polo – Lillie’s old car – gives her flashbacks.
LILLE’S LAW
Debbie is now campaigning for ‘Lillie’s Law’ that will ban killer drivers from getting behind the wheel again.
She explained: “Who knew that if you killed somebody on our roads that you are free to drive your vehicle until it goes to court and proved otherwise.
“The justice system has failed Lillie, as it has failed thousands before Lillie. When Hilton gets out of prison he’ll have a clean licence.”
Lillie currently has two six foot Christmas trees by her grave, dozens of lights, candy canes and two 3ft ginger bread figures – decorations that Debbie is constantly changing.
The mum refers to her daughter’s grave as her “forever bed” and Merton and Sutton Cemetery “Lillie’s garden”.
Lillie was a “gift” to Debbie after she was widowed by first husband, Neil – not Lillie’s dad – who died of a brain haemorrhage.
The pair are buried next to each other.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, he [God] had to take Neil away but now he has taken one of those gifts back and I don’t know why”, the mum said.
Family and friends will spend Christmas Day under a gazebo at Lillie’s graveside and will have a shepherds pie in the evening.
I am very angry at Lillie’s killer. Lillie didn’t have to die. All he had to do was stop that car
Debbie Clack
Ahead of the two year anniversary of her daughter’s tragic death, the mum has a message to drinkers this Christmas: “You must not drink and drive.”
She added: “One drink is too many. Do not ever be tempted to get behind the wheel of a car.
“Get a taxi, get your mum, get your dad, because I know for a fact that I would have rather had a call from Lillie at 3am than that knock on the door that I did get.”
Debbie added: “I spent the first year wondering why. My thoughts were everywhere.
“I have now spent the second year in total disbelief of the justice system.
“I am angry now. I am very angry at Lillie’s killer. Lillie didn’t have to die. All he had to do was stop that car.”
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Debbie ClackDebbie Clack has spent every single day by her daughter’s grave[/caption]
Debbie ClackLillie loved going out with friends and buying handbags – especially Louis Vuitton[/caption]
Debbie ClackFamily and friends will spend Christmas Day under a gazebo at Lillie’s graveside and will have a shepherds pie in the evening[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
