A MOTORCYCLIST injured in a crash has questioned whether short prison sentences are enough of a deterrent after the man responsible was released from jail after three months.

Biker Gareth Jenkins spoke out after reading in the Oxford Mail about the early release.

Michael Parslow drove his Toyota MR2 on to the wrong side of Bernwood Road in Bicester while overtaking three vehicles and hit motorcyclist Mr Jenkins head-on.

The force of the collision last November sent the motor-cyclist 80 metres down the road and left him with multiple injuries, including broken vertebrae in his back and a ruptured kidney.

The 39-year-old was jailed for 10 months for dangerous driving at Oxford Crown Court in May and also banned from driving for three years.

But on Monday Mr Parslow appeared on the front page of the Oxford Mail after being released from prison and said there was “no point keeping me there”.

Mr Jenkins, 24, who is back at work but still recovering from his injuries, thinks the driver should have served his entire sentence.

He said: “I understand if it’s their first offence there is less burden on the taxpayer and I understand them coming out early. At the same time it does not offer a deterrent in the first place if people know they won’t have to serve the entire sentence.

“People are in a lot worse situation where family members have been killed.”

Under the 2003 Criminal Justice Act, prisoners are freed after half their sentences.

Mr Parslow, who has nine previous drug convictions and was given an absolute discharge for driving while disqualified in 2002, completed a business enterprise course while in prison and now wants to start his own company.

He said in Monday’s story: “Society gets the benefit of me paying my taxes, rather than paying for me in prison.”

But Mr Jenkins believes there needs to be more of a deterrent – and used the tough sentencing over the recent riots as an example.

He added: “This was quite a serious incident and it does not really seem like a fair sentence when someone can get 14 months for nicking ice cream and 10 months for nearly killing someone.”

“More shocking was that I was not told he had been released and had been free most of August.

“He lives in Bicester, I live in Bicester and I could have bumped into him.

Software developer Mr Jenkins, of Bourne Close, Bicester, spent 10 days in hospital following the collision, and was off work for three months.

He still suffers back pain and his wrist, which is held together with screws and metal plates, still has broken bones.

Mr Jenkins previously enjoyed rock climbing and contact sports such as rugby, but is now very limited in what activities he can do.

Mr Parslow told the Oxford Mail within two weeks in prison he was told he was eligible for a curfew monitored by an electronic tag. He was released on licence on August 4 and returned to his Bicester home.