HE WAS a young man with his whole future ahead of him, described by family and friends as “honest, loyal, and a true character”.

But on September 18 last year 28-year-old Wayne Moores from Chandler’s Ford was killed by a drink-driver.

Donna Hackett, 26, was more than twice over the drink-drive limit when she got behind the wheel after arguing with her boyfriend.

She was overtaking on the inside lane of the M4 motorway at more than 80mph when she ploughed into Wayne’s motorcycle, leaving him dying in the road.

His devastated parents, Sue and Chris Moores, are still struggling to come to terms with their loss.

“He was everything a parent could be proud of in a son,” said Chris.

“He was always there for everybody.

Without him there is a void in our lives. We were a family of three and we felt complete – now that circle of three has been broken.

“What worse thing can there be for a parent than to identify their child’s body? We are absolutely devastated.”

On Friday Hackett – who fled the crash scene and was found by police helicopter allegedly asleep in a ditch – was jailed for six years and faces a five-year driving ban after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile Wayne’s grieving family say their own punishment will be a “life sentence of anguish and grief”.

Wayne’s father Chris expressed his anger at what he feels is an insultingly lenient penalty.

He believes the Government is failing in its duty to protect the public and branded its response to drink-driving as “wholly inadequate”.

He said: “What message is this giving to people who drink and drive? Donna Hackett was drunk and driving dangerously – not merely carelessly, as charged – when she killed our son.

“She was speeding far in excess of the national speed limit and was undertaking on the inside of a vehicle when she hit Wayne so hard that his motorcycle was impaled upright in the front of her car.

“She then ran away and left Wayne dying in the road, and if it hadn’t been for the bravery of others who stood by our son directing traffic around him, he could have been run over again and again by following vehicles. There can be no excuse for her behaviour.”

Chris and Sue Moores – who both teach locally – say they could not have coped without the overwhelming support from family and friends.

They are now calling for tougher penalties for drink-drivers like Hackett.

“Judges’ hands appear to be tied by wholly inadequate sentencing guidelines and restrictions,” said Chris.

“Donna Hackett was only sentenced to six years and will be out in half that time or less. She could be back on the roads in another two years. The message is that taking Wayne’s life is insignificant, no more serious than accumulative road traffic offences or accumulative petty crime.

“Can you imagine how this makes us feel as parents losing our only beautiful and loving son?

“We have been told throughout not to expect the punishment to reflect the crime. We ask why not? Why isn’t killing someone when driving drunk defined as ‘involuntary manslaughter’ which in English law is committing an unlawful dangerous act which causes death.

“What Hackett did to our son couldn’t even be classed as ‘dangerous’ driving because it wasn’t witnessed by anyone.

Apparently, in lawshe was only ‘careless’. Howcan you be drunk, get in a car and kill someone and it not be classed as dangerous?

“In many European countries and in some American states there is a charge of manslaughter that covers killing while drink driving. We would like to see something similar – with similar penalties – brought in here.

“Our son has had his life stolen and we have a life sentence of anguish and grief. We want to try to prevent other parents and families suffering the same horror and devastation as we have.

“We hope that in some small way our tragedy can be a cornerstone to challenge our present judicial system, or indeed to simply provoke discussion and debate.”

Worldwide penalties for causing death while under the influence of alcohol

• England, Wales and Scotland
“Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs” carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both; and a disqualification for a minimum of two years.

• USA
The law varies according to the state. In Texas, ‘intoxication manslaughter’ is a distinctly defined offence. It carries the risk of a jail sentence between two and 20 years and a maximum fine of $10,000.

• Australia
Each state sets its own laws. In Queensland, anyone causing ‘death due to driving under the influence’ will be imprisoned. The term of prison sentence depends on the magistrate and the circumstances surrounding the death, but sentences can range from 10 to 14 years.

• Sweden
‘Negligent homicide’ is murder committed due to carelessness. Gross negligence is distinguished by “the taking of a considerable risk leading to the death, or driving a motor vehicle under influence leading to the death”, and carries a prison term of between six months and six years.

• France
Killing someone while drink-driving is termed as “involuntary manslaughter”, penalties may be a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of up to €150,000.