THE parents of Finlay Woods, the toddler run over by a car driven by a woman high on drink and drugs, are appalled that his killer is appealing against her prison sentence.

Fifteen-month-old Finlay Woods died after the pram being pushed by his mum outside Selwyn Primary School in Highams Park was struck by a 4x4 being driven erratically by 40-year-old alcoholic mother-of-two Katie Gutierrez-Perez.

Tina Woods and her husband Roger, both 32, of Winchester Road, Highams Park, said they were saddened to learn that their son’s killer applied to get weekend release and is now appealing against her seven-year sentence.

Mrs Woods said: “It makes a farce of the judicial system if she is released early.

“It is an insult to Finlay’s memory.

“She is an alcoholic and could do the same thing again. She can’t have been rehabilitated in that time. Will they let her onto the streets to do the same thing?”

Gutierrez-Perez is due to appear before a judge tomorrow (Friday) to appeal against her sentence. Even if the appeal is lost, it is likely she will serve only half of her seven-year sentence.

Mrs Woods said: “As a mother herself, if you committed a crime you would think you have to serve your time. She is just thinking of herself and is not having sympathy for my family. I don’t think she has genuine remorse if she wants to be released early.

“She obviously thinks three-and-a-half years is too long. If she gets 18 months or less it doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Mrs Woods said that the last six months since Finlay’s death on September 15 have been trying for the whole family and they are coping by taking “each day as it comes”.

She is trying to get counselling for her three children, aged eight, five and four, who are having nightmares and are struggling to come to terms with losing their brother.

She added: “It came as a surprise when we found out about the request for weekend release, and then this. It has opened up a while new set of emotions.”

Katie Gutierrez-Perez, 40, was handed the jail term after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and driving without insurance on the day baby Finlay died on September 18.