THE father of a girl killed in a car accident is calling for a change in the law after the boyfriend who was driving at the time was only convicted of careless driving.

Debbie Merritt, 20, died at the scene last February when the car she was in, driven by her boyfriend Steven Dunford, was involved in a head-on collision on the A338 near Fordingbridge.

Dunford, of Muscliff Lane, Bournemouth, was convicted last week at Southampton Crown Court of careless driving. He was fined £1,000 and banned from driving for six months.

Debbie's father David's plea for a change in the law mirrors that of South Dorset MP Jim Knight, who also believes the gap needs to be filled in existing legislation between careless driving and death by dangerous driving.

Devastated Mr Merritt, speaking from the family's home in Verney Close, Bournemouth, said: "The law needs to be changed. There should also be death by careless driving.

"Steven Dunford has only been convicted of careless driving which is no more serious than using a mobile phone while at the wheel. But his driving led to the death of our beautiful daughter. It's ridiculous the penalties he's received."

Jurors had been told that the couple were out on a romantic drive to see the snow and that Dunford admitted he overtook three cars at once because he mistakenly thought he was on a dual carriageway.

Mr Knight said: "I'm campaigning for a change in the law and expect an announcement from government very soon on what they want to do.

"I'd like to see death by careless driving because it would give juries who cannot convict on manslaughter or death by dangerous driving another option.

"At present it is notoriously difficult to impose a conviction of death by dangerous driving and families like the Merritts quite rightly demand justice."

First published: January 31