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Killer driver jailed for 18 months
16:10pm 3rd April 2006

A killer driver who sped off after mowing down a medical student on a pedestrian crossing, catapulting her 30 yards along the road, has been jailed for 18 months.

Jaswinder Lakhvinder Singh admitted causing the death of 20-year-old Abigail Craen by dangerous driving in Birmingham.

Her mother, Susan Craen, said: "The sentence is an insult to her. She is dead and the man who killed her has a small interruption in his life. This is no deterrent or punishment."

Singh, 45, gave himself up to police after Miss Craen's mother allowed newspapers to publish pictures of her daughter lying dead in hospital.

It emerged during sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court that the defendant, only months before, had got his licence back after being banned from the roads for 12 months for drink driving.

Singh, who has already served almost five months in custody, was told by Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins he would serve half of his 18-month sentence. He also banned Singh from driving for four years.

Singh, a father of two, pleaded guilty in January to dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without insurance.

Amjad Nawaz, prosecuting, said Miss Craen was on the crossing near the halls of residence in Pershore Road, Edgbaston at around 5.30pm on October 30 last year when she was hit by a Ford Mondeo.

She died at 1pm the next day, and Singh, of Ward End, Birmingham, handed himself in to police just hours afterwards.

Seleena Mahmood, defending, said Singh was fully aware of the suffering he caused Miss Craen's family. She said he did not stop because he had no insurance, but when he heard Miss Craen had died he handed himself in.

The Solicitor-General is to review the 18-month jail term imposed on a hit-and-run driver who killed a medical student on a pelican crossing. Jaswinder Singh, 45, from Birmingham, pleaded guilty at the city’s crown court to causing the death by dangerous driving of Abigail Craen, 20. Mike O’Brien will review the case under his power to appeal against “unduly lenient” sentences.

His excuse given on radio today for not stoping was that he'd just got back on the road and had no insurance -

Perhaps the person sentancing should also be subject to a review , or a suspension of facilities, and made to attend councilling sessions for the victums.