A LORRY driver whose vehicle careered out of control on the A31 at Farnham, killing two motorists, has been jailed for six months, provoking strong condemnation from one of the victim's parents.

Trevor Carter, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving in the accident between Hickley's Corner and the Shepherd and Flock roundabout which killed Laura Bowden, 18, from Upper Froyle and Dr William Halstead, a scientist from Guildford, on October 16, 2001.

The distraught parents of Miss Bowden condemned the length of the sentence, which they say devalues the life of their daughter and of Dr Halstead.

In a letter to The Herald this week the Bowdens write: "We were shocked that the sentence was so short, considering the severity of the accident. In three months the lorry driver will be free to carry on with his life. We will have to live with our loss for ever."

They supported the comments of the judge, Mr Justice Aikens, when, in his summing up at Guildford Crown Court on Friday last week, he said the tragic accident would not have occurred had a central barrier been in place.

But they criticised the legal system for being "very much geared towards the benefits and welfare of the accused and not the victims of their actions".

In a condemnation of the six-month sentence, they added: "No punishment or prison sentence will ever give us the one thing that we want, to have Laura back with us, but we felt that the sentence should have been longer.

"Two people have been killed as a result of the actions of one man, who admitted that he was responsible."

Judge Mr Justice Aikens had commented: "I note that there is no central barrier on that part of the A31. I am frankly astonished that there is not one and hope the relevant authorities take note that the tragic accident would not have occurred had there been one there at the time."

Mr Carter was travelling in the outside lane close to the Shepherd and Flock roundabout when he oversteered to avoid colliding with a car on his nearside.

His seven-and-a-half tonne Leyland DAF truck, said at the time to be carrying three-and-a-half tons of building products, ploughed across the central reservation into three cars coming the other way, killing Miss Bowden and Dr Halstead.

Simon Connelly, prosecuting, said Mr Carter was driving at around 55 mph in the outside lane and started moving inside, but failed to notice a woman driving her Rover 75 car to his left.

"As he attempted to move into her lane she was aware his vehicle was approaching and made a manoeuvre up onto the verge. At that point it appears that the defendant was completely unaware of her position on the road.

"But then he suddenly became aware and made a sudden and dramatic turn into and across the central reservation and by that stage it appears that he was completely out of control.

"He was travelling at about 45 degrees across the road and into the path of busy traffic on the other side.

"He collided with three vehicles, although a number of others had to brake and swerve suddenly.

"He seems to have failed to notice the car on his inside until it was too late and then his action seemed grossly disproportionate."

The first car he hit was a VW Polo driven by Dr Halstead, whose wife was in the passenger seat. He was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries but died later the same day.

His wife suffered bruising.

The second car, a Vauxhall Astra, contained a couple and their two-year-old child, who all escaped with minor injuries.

The third car was driven by Laura Bowden, who was killed instantly when the truck ploughed into her Fiat.

Mr Carter, from Pennistone, South Yorkshire, had been driving for a haulage company in Sheffield for 28 years and had problems with his eyesight two years previously. He suffered from a detached retina and cataract but was cleared to drive.

Maureen Baker, defending, said the accident had caused Mr Carter post-traumatic stress and morbid clinical depression. He had no desire to drive again and had suicidal thoughts.

She said: "It took slightly over a second for that lorry to veer into the path of oncoming traffic. This relatively minor driving error came to cause this crash and its terrible consequences.

"Mr Carter is tormented by his own responsibility for what happened. He is wretched with the guilt he feels."

In announcing a six-month jail sentence, Mr Justice Aikens told Mr Carter: "I am satisfied that you had the proper licence, your eyesight was satisfactory and you kept to the limits for driving hours and were within the speed limit.

"I am satisfied that these offences are so serious that I must pass a custodial sentence. No period of custody, however long, can possibly bring back Dr Halstead and Miss Bowden. I accept that this dangerous driving was a one off."

Mr Carter was also disqualified from driving for two years and had his licence endorsed.

A spokesman for Surrey County Council said: "In light of the judge's statements, engineers will be looking at this stretch of road very carefully.

l Letter from grieving parents - Page 9.