AN Upavon couple who feel they 'have been sentenced to a life of heartache and pain’ after their son was killed in a hit-and-run, have welcomed a Government proposal to enforce harsher penalties for killer drivers.

Richard and Angela Gilbey's son James was only 25 when he was mown down and left for dead on a pelican crossing in July 2015 by Majid Malik, who has 39 previous convictions. He was racing another driver, Kaiz Mahmood, and the pair were travelling through Leeds at twice the speed limit.

They were both charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum custody sentence of 14 years. They only received an eight-year jail term, which was cut to four under current guidelines, prompting Major Gilbey to start a petition calling for killer drivers to face manslaughter charges.

As this week a nationwide public consultation began on driving offences and penalties relating to causing death or serious injury, he said he supported the move and was adamant more must be done to deter people from driving recklessly.

“My boy paid the ultimate price. He was given a death sentence. Now we have been sentenced to a life of heartache and pain – we will never get over this,” he said.

“The driver who killed James was racing at over 90mph in a 40mph zone. The impact was such that James landed 70 metres down the road.

“The driver left James, disposed of the car and burnt his clothes. When they were given just four years, the families were celebrating at the reduced sentence, it was horrible for us. They made conscious decisions to do what they did.

“There has to be a greater deterrent in place to make people think twice about reckless driving and taking more care.

“The Government are acknowledging that deaths caused by those drivers who show a flagrant disregard to the law and the safety of others are totally avoidable deaths and those responsible should receive sentences proportionate to the severity of the crime and that crime is parallel to manslaughter is a very positive step.

“However, increasing the maximum sentence in isolation will change nothing. In 12 years nobody has received the maximum sentence of 10-14 years.

“Any increase in the maximum sentence must coincide with a tightening of the hazy and too lenient sentencing guidelines and the automatic 50 per cent reduction should be removed and the offender ordered to serve the full sentence imposed. This consultation has been a long time coming.”

The consultation, which runs until February 1, will look at the distinction between 'careless' and 'dangerous' driving, a perceived 'gap in the law' for causing serious injury by careless driving, maximum penalties for causing death and driving disqualifications.

The Gilbey family’s petition now has more than 10,000 signatures.

“I am delighted that our petition, which has been supported by MP Claire Perry, has received so much support and we are now waiting for a response from the government, which is part of their procedure,” added Major Gilbey, whose son worked in customer services for British Gas. “People are really pressing for this as lives are being lost.”

To sign the petition visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/164488 and for the consultation visit https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/driving-offences-causing-death-or-serious-injury/consultation/intro/