The family of a doting grandmother killed in a car crash are disgusted with the "pathetic" sentence handed down to the driver.

Stephen Newbury was spared jail yesterday for causing the crash which killed school dinner lady and governor Carol Temmerman, 45.

She died after Newbury's speeding Toyota Celica veered across the A259 before ploughing into the Renault she was in with her daughter Katy Rae, 25, and granddaughter Holly, six.

A jury at Lewes Crown Court heard Newbury, 25, had been overtaking vehicles at speed in a bid to get away from another car he said was tailgating him in Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, on January 10 last year.

Newbury, who broke his neck in the crash, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in February.

Yesterday Judge Charles Kemp decided not to jail him after hearing he was a "caring and courteous" man whose driving on that night was totally out of character.

He ordered him to do 180 hours community service and banned him from the road for three years, after which he will have to take an extended driving test.

Daughter Mrs Rae, of Maywood Avenue, Hampden Park, fled the courtroom with husband Terry shortly after sentence was passed.

She later blasted the sentence as an "insult".

She said: "When he was convicted for death by dangerous driving I seriously believed that he would be locked away.

"But then this verdict is returned. I'm disgusted. She was a mother, a grandmother and the most loving person you could meet.

"She was like my best friend as well as my mum. We used to do everything together."

Mrs Temmerman, of Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, worked at Lindfield School for special needs children for 16 years.

Mrs Rae said: "When the kids and staff heard the news they were distraught. We have had so many letters saying how lovely she was."

Newbury, of Ninfield Road, Bexhill, said he had no recollection of the crash and his last memory was ending a mobile phone call to his girlfriend because of someone behind him.

Sentencing Newbury, Judge Kemp said: "I am prepared to accept that your lack of recollection is perfectly genuine.

"You are a young man of good character. I accept that the manner of your driving on that night was totally out of character.

"I accept your remorse is genuine and you will have difficulty living with the realisation of what you did that night for the rest of your life.

"I am also conscious that sending you to prison will not bring that lady back."

Mrs Temmerman's son-in-law Terry Rae, 34, said: "The law is an ass. How can someone not be put away for causing the death of someone."

He said Mrs Temmerman's death had hit their eldest child, Holly, especially hard as she was the only person in the car conscious after the smash.

Mr Rae said: "Whenever she gets angry with us she says, 'I'm going to get a knife and kill myself so I can be with nanny'."

The jury cleared a second man, Daniel Priest, 55, of Parkgate, Battle, who was behind Newbury in a Mitsubishi Lancer, of dangerous driving.

Priest was convicted of the less serious charge of careless driving, and was fined £1,000 and given eight penalty points last month.

Newbury was also ordered to pay £1,500 towards court costs.

Campaigning mother Veronica Tooley, whose policeman son, Jeff, killed by a hit and run driver in 1999 also criticised the decision not to jail Newbury.

She said: "It is hard enough for the family of the victim to lose someone but when it has been caused by a piece of driving for which there is no proper punishment it makes it even harder."