A GRIEVING daughter is disgusted that the woman who killed her father through careless driving was banned for just one year.

Angela Sheppard's father, William Henry Cox, was 87 when he was hit by a Mercedes while crossing Eastbury Road, Northwood, on September 15 last year.

The driver, Yogini Amin, of Sandy Lane, Northwood, denied the offence but was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court. Last week she was given the one-year ban and 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay £1,500 costs.

But Mrs Sheppard, who lives in Truro, Cornwall, said the punishment should have been much more severe.

"This sentence is absolutely disgusting. This is not justice for my father. She should have been banned for at least five years, if not for life," she said.

"Her attitude in court was that it was my dad's fault, but when you are behind the wheel it is your responsibility to watch the road.

"The community service will amount to little more than a couple of weeks' work, which is nothing compared to the price my dad has had to pay."

Mr Cox, a scuba diving instructor from Northwood, had been a devoted carer to his wife, Veronica, who was blind, until her death in May last year.

"Mum and Dad were married for 63 years and he took care of her for more than 12 years. He never complained.

"He wanted to go to France, visit friends and then move to Truro, where he had already organised a place to live.

"It was all snatched away just 12 weeks after my mum died and that is the most devastating thing. All I feel now is an overwhelming sense of sadness and grief."

Amin is believed to be the first person in London to be convicted of causing death by careless driving since it was made law last August.

Sergeant Chris Osborne, who headed the investigation, said: "Mr Cox's family have suffered an irreplaceable loss. It has also had an impact on Mrs Amin and her family.

"The new legislation means drivers can find themselves being convicted of serious criminal offences as a result of only a few seconds' loss of concentration or carelessness.

"My hope is that other drivers heed the lessons learned from this case."