THE mother of a hairdresser who died in a car crash said the justice system had let them down after the driver had his ban cut.

Emma Louise Gorman, 21, died from severe head injuries after 19-year-old VJ Brand lost control of his speeding car and crashed into a bungalow in Richmond Road, Darwen, on February 6 last year.

Mum Julie Gorman, 47, of West View, Blackburn, said the family had been left 'disgusted' that Brand had even attempted to reduce his ban.

Brand, of Mowbray Avenue, Blackburn, was driving at around 40mph in a 30mph zone, while Emma, who was sitting in the back, was not wearing a seatbelt.

Brand was sentenced to 20 months youth custody on December 14 last year at Preston Crown Court, after earlier pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

He was also banned from the road for five years but has now had that cut to two years.

Mrs Gorman said: "We are all disgusted and disappointed by what has happened.

"We were happy when he was sentenced because we thought it was fair and sent out a strong message about driving safely.

"They have now dropped the driving ban by such a large amount.

"We just don't understand why he would even want to drive again, but he will now get his licence back so soon after he gets released from prison.

"It hardly seems that he will get any ban at all.

"There should be lessons to be learnt, because the accident has caused so much grief and devastation, but the justice system has let us down."

Brand is set for release in October and could be back behind the wheel just a year later.

The court heard that Emma was sitting in a rear passenger seat when Brand, 18 at the time, lost control of his silver Peugeot 106 at around 5.35pm.

Brand had been driving between 39 and 42 miles per hour around a bend when he struck a kerb, causing the car to spin sideways across the road, crash through a fence and hit the corner of the home.