The grieving father of a teenager who died while driving a works vehicle has branded the legal system "a complete joke" after plans to prosecute his son's employer were abandoned.
Daylin Brown, 16, died when the Land Rover he was driving overturned on a minor road near Torrington in February 2010.
Initial charges of corporate manslaughter against employers K&J Contractors were dropped before company boss Keith Curtis was presented with fresh charges that the Land Rover had a defective steering unit and a corroded main brake hydraulic pipe.
Now, after numerous court hearings over two years, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says the case has been discontinued because a mistake was made when drafting the summons.
Daylin's father Graham Brown said his family had lost everything and has no fight left to continue the battle for justice.
"We feel totally cheated by the justice system. It is a complete joke," he added.
"We have got to the stage where it seems like no-one cares Daylin died. I have been left with a very bad taste in my mouth.
"I don't blame the police at all. I just feel totally let down by the CPS."
Daylin had begun working for the plant hire company while on a day-release course and took a full time job with them when he left school.
An inquest heard the vehicle he was driving had been adapted to be an agricultural vehicle, meaning it could be legally driven by a 16-year-old who had passed a tractor test.
Exeter and Greater Devon Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland recorded a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect.
The CPS this week blamed a police error in drafting the summons which meant the company secretary, rather than K&J Plant Ltd, was named as the defendant.
Then on the morning of the trial on September 25 fresh evidence showed that Mr Curtis could not be liable as the owner of the vehicle and employer of the driver under a contract of service.
Mr Curtis, 54, who spoke at the funeral and provided all the vehicles for the funeral procession through Torrington, denied any wrongdoing this week and said the CPS "never really had a case".
He added: "My heart goes out to the family, at the end of the day they are the ones that matter and, as people I have known all my life I hope we can move on."
