THE widow of a man killed by a speeding motorist has said she is disgusted but not surprised the culprit flouted his five-year driving ban.

Alexander Marsh was also given a 21-month jail sentence after jumping a red light and ploughing into Howard Bouston's van near the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, in July 2000.

At the time, the 56-year-old Upton-upon-Severn lorry driver's widow, Joan - who lost three members of her family in 18 months - spoke out against the "lenient" sentence.

But a week ago, Marsh walked free from court smiling after being caught behind the wheel last November, shortly after writing a letter of remorse to the family of Mr Bouston, known as Roy.

"We are really quite disgusted and the smile on his face was unbelievable" said Mr Bouston's widow, who only found out about the latest court case when a friend showed her a copy of the Evening News.

"He sent me a letter when he left prison saying how sorry he was, that he could never get behind the wheel of a car again and it would be on his mind for the rest of his life. I didn't believe it.

"It took me two years to get on with my life, as Roy would have wanted me to, but I'll never forget it."

Twenty-five-year-old Marsh, of Rodburgh Drive, Warndon, who served just eight months of his jail term for causing death by dangerous driving, was given a community punishment and eight points on his licence for getting back behind the wheel three years before his ban expired.

But Mr Bouston's widow, now Mrs Arnold after remarrying and moving to West Bromwich, insisted he should have automatically gone back inside and the new sentence was "farcical".

"After the first court case, we expected him to get at least four years, but after this, he is just laughing at the police.

"What kind of example does it set to others?"

"It shows what a farcical justice system we have and at this rate, there will many more widows and grieving families."