Judge blasted for 'lenient' sentence for driver who 'fell asleep at wheel' before crash that killed father as he loaded children into car
A judge has been blasted for handing a 'lenient' sentence to a postman who killed a father-of-eight by driving into him, having apparently fallen asleep at the wheel.
Sajid Hussain was given a suspended jail sentence and a community order after pleading guilty to causing the death of David Hinton, from Halesowen, by careless driving.
But a campaign has been launched to have the sentence reviewed by friends of Mr Hinton who believe the punishment was not severe enough.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Hussain, aged 36, was at the wheel of a red Volkswagen Polo when it struck Mr Hinton, 47, who had been putting his young children into his green Peugeot 206 in Oakham Road, Dudley.
Driver 'fell asleep at wheel' before crash that killed father as he loaded children into car
Postman admits causing death of father killed as he put his children in his car
During the court hearing earlier this month it was revealed Hussain 'must have dozed off' before the collision near to the junction with Tansley Hill Road on June 20 last year.
He was given handed an eight-month jail term suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work by Judge James Burbidge.
Mark Scott, who has set up a petition, claims Hussain, of Blackacre Road, Dudley, should have been given a harsher sentence.
The petition has already been signed by more than 1,100 people.
He said: "I would like to have the lenient sentence overturned and a proper sentence given to Sajid Hussain who killed a family man leaving a widow and eight young children to fend for themselves.
"(Hussain) was 'tired', fell asleep behind the wheel, ploughed into a car killing a father of 8 injuring his wife and one of his small babies,
"Where is the justice in all of this? He knew he was tired, any normal driver would have pulled over or stopped in a lay-by to rest."
Mr Scott wants to get enough signatures for the issue to be debated in Parliament - 100,000 signatures is required.
Mr Hinton was tended to by passers-by after being hit until paramedics reached the scene.
His children and 34-year-old wife were treated for minor injuries and shock but he died in hospital the following day.
PC Stuart Allen, from West Midlands Police, said shortly after the incident: "Mr Hinton's family have been left devastated by their loss and are understandably at the very early stages in the grieving process."
