The family of a cyclist killed by a drink-driver who left the scene are appealing for a tougher sentence to be imposed.

Ali Reza Ghaisar, 48, suffered fatal injuries when he was struck by a BMW driven by Vicky Hardy on Hylton Road in Sunderland shortly after 1.20am on July 31, 2022.

A police investigation found the 44-year-old, of Helmsdale Road in Sunderland, drank five pints of cider in a nearby pub before getting behind the wheel.

Vicky Hardy Vicky Hardy (Image: Contributor)

She was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty at Newcastle Crown Court.

Hardy was also given an eight-year driving ban.

But Ali’s family, who travelled from London to see his killer jailed, feel the sentence was too lenient – and that she should never drive again.

Ali Reza GhaisarAli Reza Ghaisar (Image: Contributor)

Ali’s sister-in-law, Rachael Ghaisar, said: “Ali was a really good person.

“His life has been taken by this woman who has showed no remorse and she has been given a really low sentence. She will be out in three years.

“She did plead guilty but I thought she would have got at least seven or eight years.

“I feel there has been no justice here.”

The family was asked to change their victim impact statement, which informs the court of the effect of the incident, on the morning of the hearing, despite initially submitting one two years ago.

Rachael said she feels her initial statement may have led to a tougher sentence being imposed.

She said: “The CPS said it was aimed too much at her but it did explain our feelings as a family as well, which is what a victim impact statement should do, but we were not allowed to read that.

“I had to construct this other one 30 minutes before the court hearing.

“How am I supposed to gather my thoughts together in that amount of time?

“We were already having a bad day, having to attend court and having travelled all the way from London to Newcastle.”  

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The family is also upset because they were sat in the public gallery with Hardy’s family, which they felt was ‘not appropriate’.

Rachael said: “We feel totally let down by the system.”

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Guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service website states victims' families can ask for separate seating away from defendants' families if they prefer.

A CPS spokesperson said: “Shortly prior to the sentencing of this case, the CPS were made aware by the judge that a document previously submitted to the court on behalf of the victim’s family would require substantial editing to be admissible under the national guidelines for victim personal statements.

“To ensure that the most relevant views of the victim’s family were appropriately presented to the court, the assigned CPS prosecutor assisted them in producing a guidance-compliant victim personal statement, which was then submitted to the court on their behalf.”

A decision about the whether the sentence will be reviewed will be made at a future date.