The American driver who killed two British businessmen in Florida in a hit-and-run accident in 2009 has escaped going to jail - after the men's widows agreed to it as part of a compensation deal.
Ryan LeVin, the heir to a jewellery empire, was racing his white Porsche 911 Turbo when he lost control and hit the two pedestrians at 2am on a February 2009 morning.
Kenneth Watkinson, 48, of Leamington Spa, and Craig Elford, 39, of Ratley, Oxfordshire, who had been walking back to their hotel following a meal, died instantly - leaving behind wives and young children.
They were visiting Florida to recruit for their healthcare business and were 50 yards from their hotel when they were struck.
After a police chase, the smashed car was found abandoned.
LeVin, 36, initially said a friend was driving but eventually pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident and two counts of vehicular homicide.
Despite multiple traffic convictions since 1992, including a 30-month probation sentence for leading police on a high speed chase, he was given a 2-year house arrest sentence, followed by 10 years of probation.
It means that rather than go to jail, he will spend 24 months at one of his parents' two luxury oceanfront apartments in Ft Lauderdale.
Sentencing guidelines called for 20 to 45 years in prison, and prosecutor Stefanie Newman asked for 10 years.
But LeVin had worked out a deal to pay the families of the victims an undisclosed sum - which depended on him staying out of jail, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Under Florida law, victims can have a say on the sentence and both widows had written to the judge describing the 'financial hardships' they had been suffering since losing the men.
Broward Circuit Judge Barbara McCarthy said: 'The need for restitution does outweigh the need for prison'.
The widows agreed to LeVin staying out of prison with certain conditions, including immediate payment to settle a civil wrongful death lawsuit they filed against him and a lifetime driving ban.
Kirsty Watkinson, who has three children, including a 5-year-old, wrote: 'We have been living in uncertainty and financial need.
'We need closure so we can start to move on with our lives'.
Claire Elford, who has been left with two young daughters, said she had 'lost all financial protection and security'.
'My girls and I need closure',' she wrote. 'We need security both emotionally and financially'.
But prosecutor Newman had told the judge: 'He needs to go to prison. He needs to be penalized for his actions'.
The prosecutor gave the judge four 'horrific' photos of the victims' mangled bodies.
'The court, in making its decision, needs to see how these men were left to die on the side of the road', Newman said.
LeVin initially declined to speak in court. But the judge asked him to look at the photos and make a statement.
He did not apologise, but said: 'There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about this.
'I feel complete shame and compassion for the victims - my heart goes out to them. I would just like to say it's a nightmare'.
Following the sentence, attorneys for the men's families collected cheques from LeVin.
Afterward, his lawyer, David Bogenschutz, requested the return of LeVin's GBP70,000 Porsche 911 Turbo that has been impounded since the Feb. 13, 2009 hit-and-run.
Mr Bogenschutz said after the court hearing: 'I think he hardly bought his way out of this.
'We have two victims who have an absolute say in what should happen in their case. All the judge did was follow the law'.
LeVin is the son of Arthur and Shirley LeVin, founders of Jewels by Park Lane, a direct sales juggernaut that relies on at-home parties and does about GBP95m in sales annually, according to industry estimates.
One of eight children, he grew up in a mansion with its own ballroom outside Chicago.
He will be under house arrest at the Point of American complex, which reportedly boasts a 'spectacular private beach' and three fitness centres.
LeVin will be allowed to exercise and attend church and must turn in a detailed weekly schedule to be approved by his probation officer.
what a lucky criminal
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