Cystic fibrosis sufferer David Cameron, from Newcastle, was cycling across a road last June when he was hit by a car driven by Mark Tye.

Tye, 22, also of Newcastle, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard Tye had been swerving in and out of traffic at speeds of 60mph at the time and that his BMW had defective brakes and tyres.

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

The speed you were driving at was grossly excessive Judge John Milford

He knocked down the youngster, nicknamed Billy Elliot because of his energy, who was playing on his bike with friends.

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

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

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, added: "The law should be changed so it's a life for a life."

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

Loving family

The judge said Tye's 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.

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