The brother of a man who died in a crash along with his wife and sister says he has lost all faith in the British justice system after the Attorney General ruled not to increase the sentence of the lorry driver responsible for the deaths.

Islam Akram, 28, his wife Shamim Akhtar, 28, and his sister Tasleem Akhtar, 27, died instantly on the M1 when their car was crushed by Rex Bennett Hoyte's 28-tonne Parceline lorry after he fell asleep at the wheel.

"I have lost my faith in the British Justice system," said Saghir Iqbal, Mr Akram's brother.

"If the legal system allows a man who has killed three people and orphaned six children to escape with such a short sentence, I cannot feel like justice has been done."

Hoyte, 48, was sentenced to three years at Northampton Crown Court last month for causing three deaths by dangerous driving in December 2005.

Mr Iqbal said: "How can the lives of my family members mean so little?

"I just do not feel like they have truly taken into account the impact of this tragedy on my family."

Hoyte had fallen asleep behind the wheel and despite feeling tired continued to drive past two sets of service stations.

"If someone makes that conscious decision not to stop despite falling asleep then surely they should be properly punished," said Mr Iqbal.

"What sort of a deterrent is the sentence to other drivers who may do the same? I am disgusted by the legal system it has badly let my family down."

The case was referred to the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith by the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Northamptonshire to decide whether the Court of Appeal should re-consider Hoyte's sentence.

Mr Iqbal of Southmere Grove, Great Horton, had collected thousands of signatures for a petition supporting his call for a tougher sentence.

"So many people have backed me in this and that reflects people's thoughts," he said. "I would like to thank everyone who has added their name to the petition."

e-mail:jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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