HEARTBROKEN father-of-three Tony Nellist criticised the justice system yesterday after the drug addict who killed his wife received just four years detention.

"He'll only serve two years, but we have a life sentence" said Mr Nellist.

"This sentence is an absolute insult. I wonder how the judge would feel about four years if he had seen his wife killed in front of him."

Mr Nellist, 44, and his wife Susan, 42, had just stepped off a bus opposite their home in Trimdon Avenue, Middlesbrough, when a Citroen AX came speeding down the road.

Teesside Crown Court heard the driver, 18-year-old Liam Dye, had never taken a driving lesson, and just seconds earlier had injected himself with heroin, as he sat behind the wheel.

The car swerved across the road and careered into Mrs Nellist before crashing into a wall.

As Mr Nellist cradled his dying wife in his arms, Dye got out of the car and ran off.

The couple have three children, Jennifer, 22, Vicky, 21, and Anthony, 17.

Mrs Nellist was a popular figure locally, where she worked as a school dinner lady.

"The maximum sentence is ten years and that is what he should have got. I don't understand how you could have a worse case of death by careless driving.

"If the courts are to deter offending, they have to issue tougher sentences."

Mr Nellist, a process worker, is left to bring up Anthony, a special needs child, on his own.

He said: "I have lost a wife, my children have lost a loving mother, and their children will be robbed of a grandmother."

Mr Nellist could not bear to remain in his home, which overlooks the crash scene, so has had to move. He has undergone counselling.

He said: "Our son Anthony is a special needs child, and he misses his mum terrib1y. When he tells me mum is still watching over us, it breaks my heart."

Known drug addict Dye, of Denton Close, Middlesbrough, admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.