A widow today called for a change in the law after a driver whose lorry was involved in the accident in which her husband died walked out of court with a ban and fine

Phyllis Leather, of Southgreen Gardens, Clacton, could not bear to go to the case yesterday.

However, on learning Justin Ambrose had been fined £250 and banned for a year after admitting careless driving, she said she felt let down by the legal system. It was his second offence.

"It seems wrong that if I hit someone over the head with a hammer I will go to prison and yet when my David dies following the actions of a driver with a lethal weapon in his hands he virtually walks free," said Mrs Leather.

"There should be a change in the law with much sterner sentences."

Mrs Leather added: "He will have to live with his actions for the rest of his life - as the rest of us will have to live with the consequences."

Ambrose, 33, of Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, swerved to avoid cars and a lorry parked at the side of the road following a minor accident.

But his lorry then collided with a minibus coming in the opposite direction.

David Leather, 60, of Southgreen Gardens, Clacton, died in the crash on the A120 at Little Bentley on September 25 last year.

David Bryant, prosecuting, said witnesses saw Ambrose's lorry travelling too close and too fast behind another truck which swerved to avoid the first accident.

Roger Brice, mitigating, said it was a tragic case.

He admitted Ambrose's driving had been "below standard" when the accident happened but he said there was no suggestion Ambrose was driving too fast.

However, he said Ambrose had been "marginally too close" to the lorry ahead when it swerved to avoid the first accident.

The court heard Ambrose had received a nine-month ban for careless driving in 1999 and was fined £100.

However, Mr Brice said there was no suggestion he was a "repeat or prolific offender".

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette