Police chief calls for tougher sentences for killer drivers as hit-and-run motorist walks free after 6 weeks

South Yorkshire's Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes has backed the family of seven-year-old Kyle McDermott who are calling for harsher penalties for drivers involved in fatal accidents.

Kyle died in September last year after he was riding his bicycle back from a sweet shop when he was struck by a van driven by Christopher Collins, 45, who left the scene without reporting the incident to the police.

Collins was jailed for just five months in August this year which left Kyle's family and neighbours in Mexboriough, South Yorkshire outraged. Now Collins has been released early.

Mr Hughes said: "Kyle's death was a tragedy not only for his family but also for the community.

"It is disappointing that the strong feeling within the area was not reflected in the length of the sentence given and I understand the concern people have that an offender can be released only a few short weeks after his court appearance.

"I urge the community to express their feelings by supporting the campaign by the McDermott family to call for longer sentences for hit and run drivers.

"Courts cross the country have signally failed at times to adequately punish drivers who kill others.

"Drivers have the responsibility to stop at the scene of collisions and ensure victims receive assistance.

"The law must ensure that those who fail to comply with those simple procedures are correctly punished."

Kyle's parents and grandparents are outraged that Collins has been released from jail after serving just six weeks.

They have launched a campaign for tougher penalties for hit-and-run drivers involved in death crashes and have handed a petition to Parliament with 16,000 signatures supporting their case.

Kyle's grandmother Catherine McDermott, 68, said: "I have been informed that Collins is out of prison. I think it is disgusting.

"It makes a mockery of the legal system. There should be a new law to prevent this sort of thing.

"I have heard that he was released for good behaviour. He would have been punished if he had been put away for five years but this is ridiculous.

"My family is being punished for life after what he did to Kyle."

The seven-year-old collided with Collins' Ford Transit van. Kyle was dragged for yards underneath the vehicle.

Collins paused briefly then drove off. He even returned to the scene later in a car but when he saw a crowd had gathered around the dying boy he drove off again.

It was a week later before he was arrested and even then at his first police interview he denied being the van driver.

Collins was jailed for five months at Doncaster Crown Court after admitting driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and failing to report an accident and perverting the course of justice.

After the hearing Kyle's mother Katy, 32, said: "It's disgusting. He should have got life."

A spokesman for Doncaster Prison here Collins served his sentence said: "We have to release people when we are told to by the authorities or we leave ourselves open for legal action."