The family of a father of three killed in a car crash has criticised the driver's £100 fine.

Leighton Long, 21, was fined by Brighton magistrates yesterday after admitting careless driving.

Front seat passenger Michael Tugwell, 25, was killed instantly when Long's Rover crashed into a tow truck parked in Cowley Drive, Woodingdean, Brighton, in October last year.

Mr Tugwell's widow, Jo, who had known her husband since she was a teenager, said: "It is not justice. My children have got to grow up without a father."

Her children are aged five, four and 18 months.

Mr Tugwell's father, Alan, said: "I was not surprised at the sentence. But I find it hard as a parent that my son's life was valued at £100.

"My son died as a result of an accident but the sentence seems grossly inappropriate."

He said it was ironic that defendants could be jailed for driving while disqualified but Long would be allowed to pay off his fine at £15 a week.

Offenders cannot be jailed for careless driving but can be fined up to £2,500.

Long, formerly of Aldwick Crescent, Findon Valley, Worthing, and now living at Netherfield Green, Woodingdean, also admitted driving without insurance or a test certificate and breaching provisional licence rules by driving without L-plates.

He was fined £100 for careless driving plus a further £200 for the other offences and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Long was also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to take a test before he drives again.

Libby Clarke, prosecuting, said witnesses told police they got the impression Long's Rover was travelling fast before the crash, which happened when he attempted to manoeuvre around the truck.

After the accident Long, who had only owned the car a week, got out and was sitting on the pavement. He had been drinking but a blood test concluded he was unlikely to have been over the legal limit at the time of the collision.

Ms Clarke said: "The manoeuvre was clearly misjudged and he lost control of the car with tragic consequences."

Long later told police during an interview: "I am sorry for everything that has happened. I didn't mean for anything to happen and I have got to live with it for the rest of my life."

Richard Brown, defending Long, who has no previous convictions, said: "He bitterly regrets what happened and wishes to extend his sympathy to Mr Tugwell's family.

"Since that evening he has done nothing but think about it."

He said Long could not remember much about the accident but he admitted he was at fault.

Mr Brown said Long had been treated for depression and has seen a therapist every week since the crash. He has been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Relatives and friends of bricklayer Mr Tugwell, formerly of Cowley Drive, Woodingdean, attended the hearing and left the court distressed at the sentence.

Mr Tugwell said as far as the family was aware his son and Long had met for the first time that night. They were driving to visit a friend when the crash happened.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service explained why a charge of careless driving was laid and not a more serious offence, such as causing death by dangerous driving.

He said: "We looked at the evidence presented to us and considered careless driving the most appropriate charge."