THE widowed husband of a pensioner who died after being hit by a car said he wished the 20-year-old driver had been given a jail sentence for taking his wife’s life.

Thomas Pearce was on his way to work on March 6 last year when he lost control of his Seat Ibiza and hit great-grandmother Jean Croft, 77, on the roundabout above the Marlow bypass.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was given a one-year jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. (See link below for full story).

Fred Croft, 82, said he has not been able to sleep since his wife, Jean, died and he knew the driver, Thomas Pearce, from the shooting range where he worked.

Mr Croft recognised Pearce as the pensioner had attended shooting events as a 'beater.'

Mr Croft, from Westhorpe Park in Little Marlow, said: “I would have liked to see him go to prison for what he had done.

“I think he will suffer for what he has done for the rest of his life. When you do a thing like that- take someone's life- he will have it on his mind forever.”

But he said the road safety could be improved to prevent further accidents.

He said: “I think they should cut the speed on that road and put speed ramps up to make people slow down.

“I would like a barrier put there or some protection for the pedestrians and a lot of people walk their dogs along there and there is no protection.”

Their four sons, Michael, 57, Keith, 56, Gerald, 51, Sean 46 attended the hearing on Tuesday.

Gerald Croft said he could not forgive Pearce for causing his mum's death. He said: “I completely understand the position of the judge, he's given the best he could but a suspended sentence is no sentence at all. We'd have liked to see him in custody.

“My dad isn't going to understand that. Someone's killed his wife and we've all got to go back and say he's not gone to jail.”

Last May Little Marlow Residents Association collected in the region of 400 signatures on a petition which demanded barriers to protect pedestrians and cyclists, a 30 mph speed limit at the slip road leading from the A404 to the roundabout and a consistent 40 mph along Little Marlow Road from Well End.

The Highways Agency manages the A404 and the A4155 is looked after by Buckinghamshire County Council.

Mark Oldfield from BCC said: “As you will be aware the driver in question was speeding when the incident occurred. This is a very sad incident but down to driver behaviour.

“We have no plans to change the speed limit.”

He added that the council is considering a countywide surfacing programme and it may look at this site.

The Highways Agency upgraded the bridge parapets in March this year and reviewed the exit slip roads at the junction which it said are long enough for drivers to slow down safely before they reach the give way point at the junction, and are treated with a special high friction surface to aid efficient braking.