LIFE sentences for killer drivers have been backed by families whose lives have been devastated by deaths on the county's roads.

The Ministry of Justice has now said it wants death by dangerous driving or when under the influence of drink or drugs to be brought in line with manslaughter – increasing the maximum sentence from 14 years to life.

Do you think the law should be changed? Get in touch with your views 

Paul Baker, Malcolm Ruecroft and Nicci Saunders have called on people to respond to a consultation and back the plans, which they say could give families justice and act as a proper deterrent.

They have been joined by five of Oxfordshire's six MPs, who back the plans.

FAMILY HEARTACHE

Paul Baker's daughter Liberty was killed when she was walking to school in June 2014.

She was 14 when Robert Blackwell's car mounted the kerb in Curbridge Road in Witney and hit her, moments after he received a text message.

Oxford Mail:

Paul and Maureen Baker with their son Finley

He also had a low level of cannabis in his system.

Blackwell (pictured below) admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

Since then Mr Baker and wife Maureen have campaigned for tougher sentences and met with junior transport minister Andrew Jones earlier in the year, as well as their former MP David Cameron

Oxford Mail:

Mr Baker said: "There are a lot of families like us, bereaved families, outraged at the sentences being handed down from the courts.

"We have been doing a lot of campaigning, along with charities such as Brake, and the culmination of everybody's campaigning has led to the Government listening.

"We know there has been a lot of publicity regarding mobile phone use recently, it seems to have been more in the public eye.

"If somebody causes death by dangerous riving it should be treated as manslaughter."


'BAFFLING'

Malcolm Ruecroft's brother Graham was 54 when he was hit by Maria Sutton as he cycled home along Wallingford Road near Cholsey in June 2015.

Sutton, who had been drinking with her friend from lunch time that day, was over the legal drink-driving limit when the crash happened.

The mum-of-three knocked Dr Ruecroft, who co-founded Oxford firm Prosonix, from his bike before driving off and leaving him by the side of the road.

She later called police an hour later and claimed her car had been stolen. She admitted perverting the course of justice and causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit and in June this year was jailed for four years and three months.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Ruecroft (pictured above) said: "It is manslaughter really but scaled down when a car is involved. It is baffling.

"If Sutton was sober and had stopped and did everything she could to help Graham I could have found some form of forgiveness.

"But she did everything she possibly could have done wrong.

"Sutton is not going to be looked at as a killer in prison, but if the sentence was made as serious as manslaughter perhaps she would be.

"When I walked out of the court I was hoping there would be closure, but there will never be any."

Oxford Mail:

The proposed changes to the law mean criminals such as Sutton (pictured above), who was over the drink-drive limit, or drivers who kill because they were distracted by a mobile phone, could face life in jail.

Despite death by dangerous driving carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years the average sentence is less than four.


'CARELESS'

Nicci Saunders' partner Joe Wilkins, a firefighter, was killed in May 2012 as he cycled along Eaton Road near Appleton.

The 39-year-old father-of-two was hit by a car driven by Paul Brown was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving but admitted causing death by careless driving.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford Crown Court heard Brown (pictured above outside court) might have been eating a sandwich at the time of the crash.

He was sentenced to 240 hours unpaid work and banned for driving for 12 months.

Ms Saunders (pictured) later became an ambassador for road safety charity Brake.

She said: "When you hear the term 'careless driving' you think of being a bit careless. It makes it seem like it is not that bad but it is, you can damage and ruin lives.

Oxford Mail:

"When Paul Brown was sentenced we felt Joe's life was worthless. We can all make mistakes and these people do not go out to kill someone but if they do they should be punished for it as the families of the victims are for the rest of their lives."

The consultation will run until February 1.

To have your say visit consult.justice.gov.uk or call 07580 701239.