THE sister of Leighanne Charge - the teenager killed by a drunk driver - has spoken of her anger after he avoided having his "lenient" sentence increased.

Lithuanian Vytautas Bartkevicius, 21,  was jailed for four years at Isleworth Crown Court in August after admitting causing death by careless driving, whilst under the influence of alcohol.

Leighanne Charge, 19, a former pupil of Cranford Community College, was crossing Parkway Road, Hounslow, on April 19, when Bartkevicius crashed into her.

Bartkevicius, of Martindale Road, Hounslow, was back in court on Thursday (November 26) after a reference of the case by the Attorney General to the Court of Appeal.

Lawyers for the Attorney said the sentence was "unduly lenient" and should be increased, but, while he agreed it was lenient, the Lord Chief Justice, opted not to increase the term.

Leighanne's sisiter Victoria said: "I feel like the justice system has failed my sister. They were completely on his side in court, yet he has shown no remorse for what he has done."

Bartkevicius had raced off from his friend's house near Heathrow Airport, after hearing that his former girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, had suffered a miscarriage.

But he had already downed a large amount of vodka and was unfit to drive, crashing into one parked car, careering onto a grass verge and causing damage to his vehicle before hitting Leighanne.

Leighanne of Windsor Road, Cranford, was thrown into the air and bounced off the windscreen of the car before falling to the ground, her injuries were so serious that she died a week later.
Instead of stopping Bartkevicius drove on, but was arrested when he arrived at his home because another motorist had reported his driving tot he police.

Lord Judge said: "This sentence was a lenient sentence and it is arguably an unduly lenient sentence. But having stood back and examined all the factors and the background relating to the case, we have come to the conclusion that it would not be appropriate to interfere with it."

Victoria said: "What does someone have to do to get the full 14 years? I was told if he was older then he would of got a harsher sentence, however I think if he's old enough to have the responsibility of drinking and driving he should be held responsible for his actions.

"There is also still no proof that his girlfriend suffered a miscarriage on that day, he didn't even mention in until the day of sentencing."