The family of a man killed by a runaway driver hit out last night at the justice system for not pressing tougher charges.

William Tait was uninsured and had no licence when the BMW car he was driving hit Harry Thompson, 74, in Stamfordham Road, Denton Burn, Newcastle.

Tait sped off - leaving the retired painter and decorator for dead in the road - finally losing control of the car on a nearby housing estate and crashing into a tree.

Tait later gave himself up to police and yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court admitted careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, having no insurance and no driving licence.

He also admitted having driven dangerously after hitting Mr Thompson. The hearing was adjourned for reports and he is due to be sentenced in three weeks.

Last night, Mr Thompson's nephew Kevin Oldfield criticised the Crown Prosecution Service and called for tougher laws for hit-and-run drivers.

The father-of-four, 42, from Addiewell, West Lothian, believes Tait should have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

He said: "The laws in this country for killing people with motor vehicles should be looked at seriously.

"People who hit somebody while they are driving a vehicle and don't stop, leaving them to die, aren't showing the victim any consideration, so why should the law show them any?

"These charges seem to show that it is all right in the North-East to go and hit somebody and leave them for dead. Where is the justice in that?" Tait's bail was renewed on condition he lives at an address in Eastgarth, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, and neither applies for a passport nor drives.

His lawyer Christopher Knox said the report would look at Tait's current home circumstances, which were "difficult".

He said Tait's wife was extremely ill and he was the sole carer of a number of children. Mr Knox also said Tait had "panicked" after the fatal collision because although he was lawfully in possession of the BMW, he had no tax or insurance and was not licensed to drive it.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said last night: "This case has been adjourned for reports and will be dealt with in two to three weeks' time.

"We have spoken to Mr Oldfield on a number of occasions and have offered to meet him after the conclusion of the case to explain in more detail the reasons for the decisions and why the charge was driving without due care and attention with relation to the accident and not causing death by dangerous driving."

Page 2: Partner's disbelief at Harry's fate