A MAN whose wife was killed by a drunk driver 11 years ago has criticised the sentence her killer has now received for seriously injuring a woman as he drove while disqualified.

Thomas Cox, of Chester-le-Street, said the 15-month prison sentence was not a strong enough punishment for 45-year-old Joseph Linn, of Dene Terrace, Shotton Colliery, who was jailed last Friday.

Linn tried to overtake a tanker on the brow of a slight hill on a country road and crashed into a Ford Ka coming the other way.

Linn was unhurt but the woman driver of the other car suffered fractures to a thigh bone, knee cap, a broken hand and broken collarbone.

She is still recovering after the incident.

In 1994 Linn was jailed by Newcastle Crown Court for four years after admitting causing the death of mother-of-four Linda Cox, 35.

Mr Cox, 50, of Park View, said: "It is disgusting and disgraceful that he hasn't learned his lesson.

"He has already killed one person - my wife - and she died in my arms in hospital because there was nothing they could do for her.

"He should have been sent down for life because this is the second time he has done it. What is the law playing at?"

Mrs Cox died after Linn lost control of his Rover and crashed into her Ford Fiesta, carrying three of her children and a friend's child, at Eighton Banks in Gateshead.

The court was told at the time that Linn, who had drunk five pints of beer, said to police he decided to drive home instead of getting a taxi because his dog needed feeding.

Mr Cox said his life had been torn apart since that fateful day.

He lost his job as helicopter landing officer on the oil rigs and his mother Dorothy Simpson moved in to look after his children Paul, now 27, Deborah, 24, and twins Mark and Jason, 21.

Mr Cox said: "I lost my wife of 18 years, the career I worked damned hard for and my kids lost their mother. They haven't been the same since that crash."

Mr Cox has not been working since the accident and has vowed never to get behind the wheel of a car again.

He said: "I will never drive another car. I have still got a licence but I will not use it. Not after what happened to Linda."

On Friday, Recorder Brian Forster said Linn would have to serve half the sentence and the remainder would be suspended.

He added that both incidents showed Linn was willing to put other road users at risk and a probation report said he was prone to make reckless decisions' about driving.

Mr Cox added: "When he gets out he will just do it again.

"Next time I hope it is just him and the parapet on a motorway, or a wall. I hate him."