More than 30,000 people have signed the Newcastle Evening Chronicle’s petition in support of its Justice for Rebecca campaign calling for a change in the law so that killer joyriders can be jailed for life.

The newspaper launched the campaign in February following tragic events surrounding six-year-old Rebecca Sawyer, who died on New Year’s Day after her father’s car was hit by joyrider Ian Carr.

Carr was jailed for nine-and-a-half years on January 31 after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and five other motoring offences.

Editor Paul Robertson said: “There has been an overwhelming response to the campaign. We hope the Home Office listens to the people who have called for a law change – not least those from the close-knit community of Ashington, where Rebecca was from.

“The fact the courts had no power to impose anything other than a nine-year sentence on a man who had killed before and been involved in another serious hit and run prior to the death of Rebecca has angered our readers.”

The Chronicle is now hoping to take the petition to London to present to the Home Secretary.

More than 30 MPs have already signed an Early Day Motion expressing their concern at the sentencing powers of the courts with regard to killer joyriders.

Paul added: “We hope justice is done and that legislation allows the introduction of a new charge to reflect the crime and give the courts the power to impose life sentences on killers such as Ian Carr.”

Meanwhile, at The Journal, also in Newcastle, more than 100 MPs and 13,000 readers have also backed moves for a change in the law, and motoring organisations are also behind the move.

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