Still waiting for justice

The family of tragic schoolgirl Rebecca Sawyer have been calling for tougher sentences for drivers who kill while at the wheel since her death on New Year's Eve 2002.

Six-year-old Rebecca's death horrified the region and sparked an outcry when Carr was sentenced to a nine-and-a-half year jail term for death by dangerous driving.

It led to The Journal's Where's The Justice? campaign, which called for a change in the law to allow for life sentences for drunk or banned drivers who kill.

A year ago today The Journal delivered an 18,500 signature petition to Home Secretary David Blunkett pressing for stiffer sentencing. The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving has since been increased from 10 to 14 years, but campaigners say more needs to be done.

There was anger on Monday when estate agent Shamsi Ahmed, 43, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after killing teenager David Ross in a road accident last Christmas Eve.

Ahmed, who had two previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol, was one-and-a-half times over the legal limit when he ploughed into David's moped.

Brian and Katrina Taylor, of West Cornforth, County Durham, have also been pressing for a law change since their baby died after a banned driver ploughed into his buggy in January.

Paul Lee, 25, of Baltic Road, Gateshead, was jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court in March after admitting causing the death of eight-month-old Callum by dangerous driving.