A COUPLE whose son was killed by a driver speeding at 90mph have launched a petition for courts to impose a life sentence in such serious cases.

Richard and Angela Gilbey, from Upavon, want a charge of manslaughter, rather than dangerous driving, to be brought against people who cause death by racing.

James, 25, was killed last July by a driver in Leeds who was racing at speeds of up to 90mph in a 40mph zone.

He was hit at such speed that he landed 70 metres down the road and died instantly from multiple injuries.

The driver, Majid Malik, left the scene, later burning his clothes and abandoning his car.

In March, he was jailed for eight years, along with his friend Kaiz Mahmood, whom he was racing.

Devizes MP Claire Perry took to the floor of the House of Commons earlier this month to campaign for justice in the case in support of the couple.

She said: “Major Gilbey, an Army PT instructor living locally, came to tell me about the death of his son, James last year.

“A 28 year-old man, with 39 previous convictions, was racing his car against one driven by his friend in a testosterone-fuelled spree that saw them reach speeds of up to 90mph through residential areas – and hit James as he crossed the Stanningley bypass via a pelican crossing on his way home.

“Through my tears and sense of outrage with which I heard the details of James’ death, I listened hard to and agreed with the Gilbeys’ proposal that the men who killed James had in fact committed involuntary manslaughter – which carries a maximum term of life imprisonment and so I have arranged a debate in the House of Commons to argue for a change in sentencing guidelines for such dreadfully callous and wicked crimes.”

The drivers in the Gilbey case were charged with causing death by dangerous driving, with the offence ranked as the most serious, which carries a maximum custody sentence of 14 years.

However they only received an eight-year prison sentence, which is automatically cut to four years under current guidelines.

Mrs Perry said: “This punishment was so lenient that James’ family had to witness the defendants and their families celebrating in the courtroom when the terms of imprisonment were read out.”

According to BRAKE, the road safety charity, only a third of those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving are given prison sentences of more than five years and the maximum sentence is almost never given to those convicted.

The petition has so far attracted more than 7,900 signatures.

To sign, go to petition.parliament.uk/petitions/%20164488