(Photo: West Yorkshire Police)
A tractor driver who ran over and killed an 11-year-old boy after drinking an estimated equivalent of 13 pints of beer the night before has been jailed.
Harry Whitlam died after Gary Green, 51, of Bradburn Road, Wakefield, reversed the vehicle into him at Swithens Farm, Rothwell, near Leeds, in August 2013.
Mr Green was sentenced to 16 months and two weeks in prison at Leeds Crown Court today.
Harry's mother Pam Whitlam, who worked at the farm's cafe, said her close-knit family had been "changed forever".
"It is not OK for anyone, whether on a public road or private land, to be drunk and get behind the wheel of a vehicle," she said.
"My hope today, now the court process is complete, is that Harry's life becomes more than one day and as a family we can again remember the good times we shared."
"We all miss him dearly and it has not got easier with time but harder. Harry was my youngest son, a much-loved brother, grandson, nephew and cousin. The only memories I currently have of Harry are from the day of the accident but his life was so much more."
At 9:15am on the day of his death Harry was walking towards a member of staff when he was fatally struck by the tractor.
Health and Safety Executive Inspector Julian Franklin, said 'it is an extremely tragic case.'
"Harry was a young boy whose life was cut short by the reckless behaviour of Gary Green. Drink driving legislation does not apply on private land but it does not mean you can blatantly disregard the health and safety of those around you when driving heavy and dangerous machinery."