A driver who swerved in and out of traffic before knocking down and killing a seven-year-old boy on a pedestrian crossing was jailed today for more than five years.

Mark Tye, 22, was estimated to be driving at more than 60mph in a 40mph zone as he approached the crossing on Newcastle's A167 dual carriageway.

He knocked down cystic fibrosis sufferer David Cameron, nicknamed Billy Elliot because of his energy, who was playing on his bike with friends last June.

David was flung into the air and killed instantly, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Tye admitted causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Judge John Milford jailed him today for five years and three months, and banned him from driving for five years.

As Tye left a roundabout, he overtook one car, passed another on the inside, then moved back to the outside lane as he approached the pedestrian crossing.

David rode his bike across the busy trunk road and had not waited for the light to turn red for the traffic.

The judge told Tye: ''He seems not to have seen your vehicle and you were unable to stop in time, collided with him and killed him instantly.''

The court had heard how the BMW 3-series, with personalised registration number M19 TYE, had defective brakes, tyres and a leaking suspension.

Although this did not cause the collision, the judge said the car should not have been on the road.

He added: ''The cause of the accident was your excessive speed and determination to pass other traffic with no regard to other road users.

''The speed you were driving at was grossly excessive.''

David's death has devastated his ''loving'' family, who live close to the accident scene in the suburb of Blakelaw, the judge said.

''His mother had to suffer the hurt of finding her child at the roadside in the hands of the paramedics, obviously dead.''

Outside court, Sergeant Phil King said: ''His driving was appalling when you consider the volume of traffic and the time of day.

''I cannot think of anything worse.''

Following the sentence, the dead boy's father, also called David, said: ''The sentence was more than we expected but it will never be enough.''

Mr Cameron, a 42-year-old foreman originally from Duntocher, outside Glasgow, added: ''The law should be changed so it's a life for a life.'' He said his son was a keen Newcastle United and Rangers fan who defied his illness and lived a full life.

His sister, Kirsty, four, cannot understand why her brother has been taken from her, the family said. David's great-great aunt, Nini Shewan, said: ''They used to nickname him Billy Elliot at school because he was so lively.''

His mother, Debbie, 35, added: ''His life span was only going to be 30 to 35 but we have only seen seven.

''He was marvellous and he let nothing get him down.''.