THE decision to toughen the sentences of motorists who cause death or serious injury when driving while disqualified is to be welcomed.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced the law will soon be changed so disqualified drivers could face ten years in prison if they caused a death, and up to four years’ imprisonment if they caused serious injuries.

The news has been welcomed by Paul Houston whose daughter Amy, died after being hit by a car in Newfield Drive, Highercroft.

The motorist, Aso Mohammed Ibrahim, was given a four-month jail term for driving without insurance and while disqualified and failing to stop after an accident.

There was no specific law at the time against causing death through driving while disqualified.

Paul has campaigned tirelessly for a change in the law, and was delighted when he was successful Dubbed ‘Amy's Law’ in Parliament, his campaign created the offence of ‘causing death while driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured’, and the current maximum sentence facing a driver who causes death while driving when disqualified is two years’ imprisonment.

Now sentences will be made much longer.

A car in the the wrong hands can be an extremely dangerous thing, so let us hope this sends a clear message to any disqualified driver not to take a chance and get back behind the wheel.