Killer drivers crackdown

KILLER drivers could f ace l onger sentences following a review of serious motoring offences, David Cameron said yesterday.

The Prime Minister said that the Sentencing Council had been told to reconsider the guidelines for offences such as causing death by dangerous driving amid concerns from victims’ families that some drivers get off too lightly.

He also suggested that a ten-year sentence given to a banned driver who killed a couple riding a tandem this year should be increased.

His comments came after Tory MP Chris Skidmore brought the deaths of Ross and Clare Simons to his attention. They were knocked off their bike by Nicholas Lovell in Bristol.

Lovell, a 38-year-old drug addict who had 11 previous convictions for driving while disqualified, lied to police about who was driving. In May, he was jailed for ten years and six months after he admitted killing the Simons.

Mr Skidmore said more than 8,000 people in Bristol had signed a petition calling for a change in the law. Mr Cameron said: ‘This is the most appalling crime. As I understand it, the maximum sentence for a crime like this is 14 years.

‘The Justice Secretary has asked the Sentencing Council to review the sentencing guidelines for serious driving offences.’ IF YOU CAN’T GET YOUR DAILY MAIL . . . We always try to keep your favourite newspaper available at all times but if the Mail was sold out at your retail outlet please let us know by calling free on 0800 7815425 or by emailing us on availability@ dailymail.co.uk and we will act upon it straight away.