THE father of man killed in a hit-and-run has taken his campaign for tougher sentences on killer drivers to Downing Street with MP Claire Perry.

It has been 18 months since the son of Upavon's Richard Gilbey, 25-year-old James, was brutally mown down, thrown 75 metres and killed when he was hit on a pedestrian crossing in Leeds by Majid Malik, who was travelling at 79mph in a residential area.

Although Malik and Kaiz Mahmood, who was racing alongside him, 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.

The 'injustice' of this sentencing prompted Major Gilbey to start a petition calling for killer drivers to face manslaughter charges and with the support of Ms Perry, they took their 14,000-strong petition to No.10. and then she put it to the House of Commons last week.

"It hurts me every day to think that the British government and judicial system feel his life is worth just four years. That is wrong and a complete injustice," he said.

"These men had a flagrant disregard for the law as they callously made a conscious decision to drive at twice the speed limit. They were prepared to put lives at risk and my son was in the firing line. If you show willingness to kill, that is manslaughter.

"But thanks to Ms Perry's help, she secured a debate in Westminster, had a meeting with the justice minister, submitted my petition to No.10 Downing Street and put it forward to the House of Commons.

"I am so grateful for everything she has done and we are so indebted to her for how well she has done it. She has been so helpful in our fight to show that what happened to James was unjust. We are certainly going in the right direction.

"Increasing the maximum sentence in isolation is not enough. In 12 years nobody has received the maximum sentence of 10-14 years. If there is an increase in the maximum sentence, the sentencing guidelines must be more rigorously enforced."

Last Wednesday (February 1), a nationwide public consultation ended on driving offences and penalties relating to causing death or serious injury and Major Gilbey says the government will provide their feedback on this in the next three months.

Ms Perry added: "Over the last few months I have campaigned in Parliament for a change to the sentencing guidelines, so that the worst cases of dangerous driving are tried as manslaughter and I am pleased that the Government is now consulting on new proposals.

"Nothing can bring James back but a change in the law that puts the worst cases of this crime on a level with manslaughter is a step towards achieving Justice for James and his family."

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/