The dad of Jaiden Mangan says the lorry driver who killed his little boy could be out of prison by October.

James Mangan spoke out after Dean Phoenix was given 12 months behind bars last week for causing the death of Jaiden at a Wareham pedestrian crossing.

Phoenix, now 44, was jailed for life in 2004 after murdering his wife Naomi at their home in Hounslow, west London. He was still on licence when he hit Jaiden, three, as the tot crossed the road on March 29 last year.

Mr Mangan and other members of Jaiden's family, including his grandmother, raced to the crossing after hearing of the crash.

As Phoenix was sentenced to a year in prison, a judge told him the image of Jaiden's body under the wheels of his Sainsbury's lorry 'will be ingrained on the minds of all who saw it'.

Mr Mangan said he has struggled to accept the jury's verdict after Phoenix was cleared of death by dangerous driving. The defendant admitted death by careless driving.

"He'll probably do six months with good behaviour, and then he'll be out and back on with his life," Mr Mangan said.

"It's just horrendous that my boy is gone. I understand that he [Phoenix] didn't mean to do it – it wasn't deliberate, it was a mistake.

"But he deserves longer in prison for what he did to my little boy."

Phoenix, who lives in Chineham, Hampshire, was filmed sarcastically clapping a motorist in the moments before he hit Jaiden. He failed to notice the lights on a pedestrian crossing had changed to red to allow Jaiden and his family to cross when the tragedy happened.

The defendant had become frustrated after his delivery lorry was blocked by a car parked illegally on the zig zag lines of the crossing in Wareham.

As he tried to manoeuvre around it, he was seen swearing, gesticulating and sarcastically clapping another driver he thought had stopped to let him through a very tight gap.

In fact the oncoming driver had stopped because of the red light.

Distressing CCTV footage was shown to jurors. In it, Jaiden can be seen riding his balance bike next to mum Yasmin Dougan and his seven year old sister, Mijah.

As they walked over the crossing, Phoenix pulled forwards without seeing them and struck Jaiden.

The youngster died later in hospital from severe chest and abdominal injuries. He would have turned four the next day.

The court heard Mr Mangan continues to suffer panic attacks and sleepless nights.

Jaiden's family only found out about Phoenix's previous conviction after carrying out their own online research.

"He strangled her to death. When I found out, my thoughts about the type of person he is changed massively," said Mr Mangan.

"We've had no apology from him either. His barrister said he was sorry but that's the only time we've heard it.

"I would have expected someone in his position to write a letter, or try to talk to us another way – something."