THE family of a student mowed down by two killer drivers today said their jail sentences would never reflect the loss of their daughter.

The men who caused the death of Jackie Ryding have each been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

And it was revealed that the man behind the wheel of the car which hit 20-year-old Jackie was on bail at the time and had a history of dangerous driving.

Stephen Carroll, 26, and Anthony Geraghty, 23, were jailed yesterday for causing death by dangerous driving.

Carroll ploughed into Jackie, of Prairie Crescent, and "soulmate" Danny McNamara while the Edge Hill College students were waiting on the pavement at a pedestrian crossing in Ormskirk on April 25.

He had jumped a red traffic light in a stolen van with Geraghty following "bumper to bumper" in a stolen Ford Focus, Preston Crown Court was told.

Danny, 21, from Plymouth, nearly lost his life in the crash and spent seven weeks in hospital. He will never regain full mobility.

After the hearing, a joint statement from Jackie's devastated family and police said: "The sentence passed on Stephen Carroll and Anthony Geraghty will never reflect the loss suffered by the families involved and one could only hope that time will allow the defendants to show remorse for their actions, which took the life of Jackie Ryding and forever changed the lives of Danny McNamara and their respective families."

The court was told Carroll had 13 previous convictions, including 10 months in prison for dangerous driving in 2001 and a string of prison sentences for driving offences and burglaries.

He was on bail at the time of the tragedy for the theft of another car in Haydock and breaking into a St Helens school. He was also a banned driver.

He will serve an additional year in prison for the two crimes.

Carroll, of Huyton, Liverpool admitted causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and theft of false number plates.

Geraghty, also of Liverpool, denied death by dangerous driving but was found guilty by a Burnley Crown Court jury after a three-day trial last month. He had admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and no insurance.

The court was told the pair had stolen a white Ford Connect van from a Royal Mail depot in Warrington and drove to Holmeswood where the Ford Focus was stolen by Geraghty.

They then drove the two vehicles on the A59 into Ormskirk, followed by a police car.

The court was told it was the men's joint driving that caused the death of the student.

Adam Roxborough, prosecuting, said the pair were seen speeding and doing hazardous overtaking manoeuvres prior to the crash.

He added: "They were driving bumper to bumper as if they were joined by something."

Carroll went through a red light at "a minimum speed of 62mph in a 40mph zone", collided with a vehicle at the junction and then ploughed into Jackie and Danny.

Geraghty, driving at a "minimum 53mph", slammed on his brakes and crashed into two vehicles, without causing injury.

Both drivers ran from the scene and were arrested a short time later.

Det Insp Neil Howarth described the crash scene as "absolute carnage and complete mayhem".

Judge John Foster, QC, said: "Their driving showed a total disregard to the safety of others. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Defence barristers said both men were full of "genuine regret and remorse".

Mark Steward, defending for Carroll, said he had attempted suicide in custody.

Christopher Staples, defending for Geraghty, said his client, who had four convictions for minor driving offences, had been badly affected by the loss of three family members including his father.

He added he had shown a "frank acceptance of his culpability" and had remarked "we deserve what we get".

They were also disqualified from driving for six years.

Jackie's parents Alison and Graham and sisters Nuala and Shona have described her as "perfect" and said she was "inseparable" from Danny.

Hundreds attended the popular history student's funeral at St Andrew's Church, Burnley, for an emotional farewell.