A mum whose teenage daughter was killed by a drink-driver is going to the Home Office to demand tougher sentences for death-crash motor-ists.

Christine Sykes's daughter Lindsay died days after her 17th birthday when a car driven by 25-year-old Lee Cawley ploughed into the taxi in which she was travelling in Bradford Road, Batley.

Cawley, who had drunk ten pints of strong lager, had never held a driving licence and hit the taxi at an estimated 88mph.

The vehicle he drove was a £45 scrapped car with defective brakes and tyres.

Father-of-two Lee Gabbidon, a passenger in the car, also died after being thrown from Cawley's vehicle.

Cawley pleaded not guilty to causing deaths by dangerous driving but changed his plea after overwhelming evidence against him. Last March, he was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to eight years in prison.

On Monday, Mrs Sykes will meet Minister of State, Lord Charles Falconer of Thoroton QC, who deals with criminal justice, sentencing and law reform at the Home Office.

"I want much tougher sentences - life imprisonment - for killing someone on the road in such circumstances as Lindsay was killed," said Mrs Sykes today, on what would have been Lindsay's 19th birthday.

"I will tell him about Lindsay, to prove she is not just a statistic, and take photos and things from her school to prove that.

"I have a bag full of statements from witnesses and photos of the crash to show Lindsay was a real person, this was a real situation and the effect it has had on all who knew her."

The campaigning Birstall mum will travel to London with Councillor Andrew Palfeeman (Con, Birstall & Birkenshaw) who has supported her since Lindsay's death on February 18, 2001.

Mrs Sykes now works closely with charity SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and injury) and regularly visits schools with other SCARD members.

"I am doing what I can on a small level but I expect some big commitment from the Govern-ment," she said.

"I hope to talk to Lord Falconer about Lindsay's Law so her life and death can be recognised in some way.

"If it could be implemented around sentencing and the scrapping of unroadworthy vehicles, I would be satisfied.