Denise Downing: "I felt humiliation"

Holidaymaker Marc Downing, 22, from Ipswich, died after being struck by a Ford escort driven by Hayley Matthews.

Matthews, 24, of Redruth, admitted failing to stop and report an incident, having two defective tyres, and no tax or insurance.

Mr Downing's mother, Denise, said the justice system must be much tougher.

When you kill someone and your car is defective, there has to be justice Denise Downing

She said after the case in which Bodmin magistrates fined Matthews �83.34 that she "broke down".

She said: "I felt humiliation. It was adding insult to injury.

"The fine is less than a year's road tax."

Mrs Downing, 45, from Ipswich, is now talking to her solicitors about taking civil action for compensation.

She is also collecting signatures for a campaign for stiffer penalties for drivers in similar cases.

Night out

She said: "There are too many cases like this.

"We all pay, and thousands of others do, to keep their cars on the road legally.

"So when you kill someone and your car is defective, there has to be justice."

The court heard that Mr Downing was struck by a Ford Escort as he walked to a holiday park near Newquay after a night out on 30 August, but there were no witnesses.

He died later of multiple injuries.

Matthews told an inquest in May she had "panicked and sped off" after hitting Mr Downing.

The road had no pavement or street lamps and roadworks signs would have forced Mr Downing into the road.

Cornwall coroner Dr Edward Carlyon said Mr Downing had been drinking, but it was not a major part in the accident. He recorded an open verdict.