The mother of one of five pub footballers killed when a Bradford lorry driver smashed into their minibus said today she felt sorry for him.

The five - aged 21 to 30 - died when Graham Jagger's lorry smashed into their ailing minibus at 56mph on the A42 in Leicestershire.

Yesterday Hinckley magistrates banned Jagger, 46, from the road for two years and fined him £2,500 with £500 costs for careless driving.

Today the verdict was welcomed by the relatives of the five who died - Steven Parker, 21, Paul Thompson, 22, Panayi Kouroushi, 30, Stephen Curtis and Jeremy Goodhall.

Brenda Robertson, who lost her son Steven Parker, added: "I am pleased that he was found guilty but there could never be any justice.

"At the end of the day, whatever his sentence, it was five death sentences for the boys and five life sentences for the families and it hurts like hell."

But she showed compassion for him.

"If I am honest I do feel sorry for him and his family," said Mrs Robertson.

The court had heard how Jagger, of West Royd Drive, Windhill, Shipley, had lost concentration as he was driving his Volvo in Leicestershire and ploughed into the minibus which was travelling at just 25-35mph because of engine problems. It was revealed in court that Jagger had sought treatment in hospital for sleep apnoea, a condition that disturbs regular sleep patterns.

Stipendiary magistrate David Meredith found Jagger was driving at 56mph at the moment of impact, exceeding the limit for an HGV on that section of road. He believed Jagger had not seen the minibus just before the collision, which happened at 8pm.

He said: "Did you see the minibus? At the very least you did not see it until very late and I do not think you saw it at all."

He concluded: "Either you fell asleep at the wheel or there was a total lapse in concentration and awareness."

Rosalind Goodall, whose son Jeremy, 30, died in the accident, said after the case: "We hoped for a guilty verdict. As long as someone has been held responsible for the five deaths then we are happy.

"I am pleased with the penalty. There is not a lot more that could have been imposed on him at magistrates court. Some sort of justice has certainly been done, but nothing will bring them back."

Jagger refused to comment after the case.

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