A grieving father is risking arrest by printing hundreds of posters highlighting the imminent release of a jailed hit-and-run driver.

Ron Finch, 40, says he is taking the law into his own hands to atone for the profound sense of injustice his family feels over the sentence handed to Christopher Rolfe.

He was behind the wheel of a car that left Mr Finch's 18-year-old son, Gary, fighting for life before his death in hospital four days later.

It is believed Rolfe, 44, is due to be released from Ford Open Prison, near Arundel, today after serving just six months of a 22-month jail term.

It is understood he plans to return to live with his young family in Hastings where Gary's own relatives are attempting to rebuild their shattered lives.

However, Mr Finch plans to highlight Rolfe's freedom by pasting up posters with Rolfe's picture across Hastings and St Leonards in a bid to drive him out.

Police have warned Mr Finch that the tone and wording of the posters could be breaking the law.

Mr Finch was warned he could be arrested if he circulated the posters publicly but he said he would do it anyway.

Mr Finch, from St Leonards, said: "My family have already seen Rolfe out on day-release from prison and that was bad enough.

"But when I was told by the police he was coming out permanently after just six months inside I was absolutely gobsmacked.

"I've shown the posters to the police and they have told me I am risking arrest by doing this but I feel I need to do something.

"We have been put through hell by this man who left my boy to die in a ditch and now he is being released early. This isn't justice."

Trainee technical engineer Gary was walking on a grass verge nearest the road with friends Daniel Walbrin and Colin Chatfield when a Renault 19 driven by Rolfe appeared from around a bend.

The car struck Gary, throwing him 50ft in Upper Park Road, Hastings, near Alexandra Park, at 8.55pm on November 14, 2003.

Following the impact, Gary's two friends saw the car slew across the road then correct itself before driving off as he lay critically injured.

The vehicle was later found burnt out at Upper Broomgrove Road, Hastings - about two miles from the crash scene.

Gary, meanwhile, was left fighting for life for four days at the Conquest Hospital, St Leonards, but he died from terrible head injuries.

Last November jobless Rolfe, formerly of Pevensey Road, St Leonards, was jailed after admitting failing to stop and perverting the course of justice by torching the car with the help of accomplice Adam Beeney.

And in February, Rolfe was found guilty of careless driving and banned from the road for three years at Hastings Magistrates Court.

At the time, Rolfe's solicitor said his client could not remember whether he was driving or not.

An inquest in Hastings last October recorded a verdict of accidental death.

However, Gary's family, including mother Ann and his younger sister, believe justice has evaded them.

Mr Finch wrote to Rolfe in prison asking him not to return to Hastings on his release but he has been told he intends to move back.

Mr Finch said: "Getting 22 months in prison for my son's death was more insulting in my eyes than getting no jail term at all.

"But for him to be released after just six months has left us totally devastated.

"Our family is absolutely distraught and we want something done.

"Hundreds of posters of him are going to go up. If this is the only way we can affect him, then so be it.

"I bear his own family no malice but if he wants to walk amongst us then we are going to make people aware he is about.

"What we have found so difficult to bear is no one being held properly accountable for Gary's death.

"We are still so confused by what has happened and have been put through hell."

A car enthusiast, Hastings-born Gary - a former Robertsbridge Community College pupil - was in the process of setting up a scuba-diving company with his father.

However, he wanted to train as a diesel engineer with Sidley-based Serco to have something to fall back on.

During Rolfe's court appearances, Gary's family turned out in their masses wearing forget-me-not flowers on their lapels.

Mr Finch said: "All we want to do is get on with our lives. But how can we after this?"

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We don't comment on individual prisoners."