Tribute to boy killed by TikTok-watching driver

The parents of a toddler killed by a driver who was watching TikTok videos say his death has left a hole in their lives and hearts that will never be filled.

Chloe Baker was travelling home from an after school club with her 20-month-old son, Finley, in March, when Hristo Iliev's car smashed into the back of hers at the Holdingham roundabout on the A17 near Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

Iliev, 32, was looking at clips on TikTok when he struck Chloe's car, shunting it forward and leaving Finley unresponsive.

Chloe and Finley's father, Daniel, said: "Appalling choices made the day we lost Finley mean we never get to hear his little voice again."

Bulgarian national Iliev, of Hide Close, Boston, was jailed for 11 years and three months at Lincoln Crown Court on 11 June after he had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Finley's parents said he had filled their house "with laughter, fun and perfect chaos".

They added: "No parent should ever have to outlive their child, let alone lose them in the most horrific way like we did.

"It splits your life into two, the before and the after, and we wouldn't wish for anyone to live in this after.

"The Finley shaped hole that has been left in both our lives and hearts will never be filled."

Finley had looked up to his big brother, with them both enjoying dancing together.

"We loved watching the brotherly bond that was developing between them and the future they were going to have together," Chloe and Daniel said.

They said Finley had a "great love of dogs", with his face "lighting up" when he was allowed to stroke one on a walk.

He enjoyed looking through books, his parents said, and was just starting to talk more and point out what things were in pictures.

Thinking about the future, Finley's parents said they would not "get to take him to his first day of school, nativity or sports day".

"We won't ever know who he would have become as an adult. We can only guess what kind of future he would have had.

"His entire life was stolen from him for the most senseless of reasons," they added.

Chloe and Daniel thanked the public who stopped and helped following the crash.

"Your compassion in that moment will never ever be forgotten," they said.

They also thanked emergency services for their support.

"We will forever continue to honour and remember Finley for the beautiful little soul that he was," they said.

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