THE parents of Finlay Woods fear the drunk driver who killed him could be freed by the court of appeal.

The fifteen-month-old 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 Katie Gutierrez-Perez who was high on drink and drugs.

Tina Woods and her husband Roger, both 32, of Winchester Road, Highams Park, are preparing to face Perez at an appeal against her seven-year sentence at the Court of Appeal next Friday (December 4).

Mrs Woods said: “I am trying not to think about seeing her again, but will have to deal with it. I have mixed emotions – I'm feeling angry and upset.

“It is hard going through it again, especially when we know the outcome won't be what we want. The way the judicial system is going, you never know, but we are preparing for the worst. She might be walking before Christmas.”

Gutierrez-Perez was due to appeal against her sentence in April, but withdrew at the last minute leaving the family in a period of uncertainty.

But Mr and Mrs Woods said they have been informed by the Probation Service that Gutierrez-Perez must go ahead with the hearing this time or will lose her chance to appeal.

The brave mum, who gave birth to baby called Rafferty in July, said the timing is especially bad for her and Roger and their older children Dillon, six, and Harvey, four, and Livvy, eight, as they are already dreading facing Christmas without Finlay.

She said: “Last year we went away to Disneyland in Paris, so we didn't have to deal with sitting down and having presents and dinner without Finlay. But this year we cannot afford to go away so it will be hard. He will be missed.”

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 last year.