Father of young woman left to die in burning car by drunk joyrider hits out at ‘disgraceful’ sentence that means he could walk free in months

The father of a young mother killed in a car crash said new sentencing rules that could have led to the driver being released within months were a ‘mess’.

Mark Jennings, whose daughter Grace Robinson died after being trapped in the backseat of a car that crashed into a tree and burst into flames in February 2023, said it was ‘a shame’ that Thomas Peggs was released until September.

Peggs was 32 when he drove Grace, 20, and another woman, Macie Hall, 18, at speeds of up to 80 mph on a 30 mph road after drinking three pints of liquor at a bar.

The car lost control of the powerful Jaguar

Peggs escaped but mother-of-one Grace remained brain dead and life support was withdrawn two days later.

Macie was hospitalized for eight months and was left with memory loss and cognitive impairment. He now needs 24-hour care.

Peggs, who was seriously injured and hospitalized after the accident, did not take an alcohol test due to his injuries.

A judge said he ‘showed off by taking two young, beautiful girls to a party’.

Pegg (pictured) had drunk three pints in a bar before the trip. Grace’s father says it is ‘shameful’ she could be released until September under new sentencing laws

Peggs was sentenced to three years and four months in prison in June last year, but was reportedly able to leave prison on the day of his release.

And Mr Jennings said Peggs’ sentence had been reduced by almost a third because of new sentencing rules, potentially allowing him to remain free until September.

Grace’s father said the criminal justice system was a ‘procedural mess’, adding: ‘If this is happening, why do we have judges?

‘I found this embarrassing. The whole story, from start to finish, was a legal disaster. There is no punishment for him. Prison is more like a holiday camp for him. I find this very sad.’

Mr Jennings said his family had been ‘forgotten’ after their assigned prison representative retired and no replacement was appointed.

Prison representatives work with victims’ families on issues such as space restrictions: An offender is not allowed out on release day to ensure he or she does not run into victims’ relatives when they go out.

Mr Jennings said he was also not told how to appeal Peggs’ sentence.

‘All I got was an apology letter and nothing else,’ he said.

‘He was held up in court as a model citizen,’ Mr Jennings said.

‘The emphasis now is on getting him into different phases of society. What do you mean he won’t ever go out and drive like that again?’

Peggs was driving a Jaguar

Last year, he was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison after admitting causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.

Grace’s father said there needed to be more ways for victims to appeal sentencing decisions.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘This government inherited a prison system in crisis and we are fixing it.

“Under our changes, misbehaving prisoners will remain behind bars longer and those convicted of the most serious crimes will not be released earlier.

Last year, Peggs was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court. However, he had already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.

He had drunk three glasses at the Woodman Cottage Inn in Gorefield, Cambridgeshire, on the afternoon of February 3, 2023, and met Grace there at around 4pm.

After about 40 minutes, the two left the bar and went to pick up Macie from her beauty appointment.

Grace was left brain dead after the accident, and her family agreed to turn off life support two days later.

The car then raced out of the village at ‘full speed’ before it left the road, came to the edge of the grass, hit a tree and burst into flames.

Data from the airbags showed the vehicle was still traveling at 71 mph when it came to a crashing halt.

After the crash, passersby helped Peggs out of the car, but the two women were trapped in the backseat.

They were all taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where Grace died on February 5.

Her son Tommy is now four years old.

Peggs’ lawyer told Cambridge Crown Court last year that the driver had no previous criminal record and was now a ‘broken man’.

He added: ‘There was no doubt he was remorseful.’

As well as the prison sentence, Peggs was also banned from driving for four years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

Detective Sergeant Craig Wheeler, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said after sentencing: ‘Yet yet another case of young people’s lives being ruined by a moment of stupidity behind the wheel of a car.

‘No one except Peggs will ever know why he decided to drive the way he did that day. His actions and reckless behavior cost Grace his life and caused serious life-changing injuries to Macie.

‘My thoughts are with the families of both Grace and Macie, and I hope this sentence gives them at least some sense of closure.