THE heartbroken families and friends of three people killed by a 'selfish' and 'reckless' driver are to unite 'for justice' with a public protest against his 'lenient' sentence.

The families of the fatal crash victims want as many people as possible to attend a balloon release in Brickfields Park in Worcester on Monday (August 12) at 6pm.

Hundreds are expected to show their support at the public demonstration which aims to bring the community together after widespread condemnation of the 'soft' prison sentence imposed on triple killer driver Joe-Lewis Tyler.

An appeal has already been lodged against the 'lenient' sentence as momentum gathers following the crash on the A44 Spetchley Road, near Worcester. 

JUSTICE: The family of Claire Adkins (left) and Courtney Hemming are fighting for a longer sentence for Joe-Lewis Tyler, the driver responsible for their deaths on the A44 in Spetchley, near Worcester JUSTICE: The family of Claire Adkins (left) and Courtney Hemming are fighting for a longer sentence for Joe-Lewis Tyler, the driver responsible for their deaths on the A44 in Spetchley, near Worcester (Image: Supplied by family and used with permission)

People are asked to bring purple, green or yellow balloons to show their support for the campaign.

The 34-year-old driver was jailed for 18 years at Worcester Crown Court on Monday following the crash on February 22 which killed Leo Painter, six, child escort Claire Adkins, 39, and driver, Courtney Hemming, 26.

Not only was the driver speeding at 90mph in a 50mph zone on a wet road but was uninsured and was over the limit for alcohol and drugs (cocaine and cannabis) when the BMW ploughed into a Ford Mondeo taxi carrying all three victims as it emerged from a junction.  

LOSS: Leo Painter was just six years old when he died in the crash caused by Joe-Lewis Tayler who was over the limit for drink and two different dugs LOSS: Leo Painter was just six years old when he died in the crash caused by Joe-Lewis Tayler who was over the limit for drink and two different dugs (Image: SWNS)

Family and friends of the victims already expressed their disgust at the sentence, when Judge James Burbidge KC told the defendant he must serve two-thirds of the 18-year prison sentence.

Claire's mum Julia Earlam said in a statement on behalf of the families of Claire and Courtney, that the balloon release was 'to show awareness that the sentence given to Joe Lewis-Tyler was disgusting'.

She added on behalf of the families: "He killed three innocent people with no care for anyone but himself. The lives of Claire, Courtney and Leo were worth much more than this. We the families have the life sentence. Justice for Claire, Courtney and Leo."

DISGUST: The families of the victims have reacted with disgust to what they see as the 'lenient' sentence of Joe-Lewis Tyler following the fatal crash on the A44 Spetchley Road near Worcester DISGUST: The families of the victims have reacted with disgust to what they see as the 'lenient' sentence of Joe-Lewis Tyler following the fatal crash on the A44 Spetchley Road near Worcester (Image: West Mercia Police)

The Attorney General's office has now confirmed to the Worcester News it has received a request for Tyler's sentence to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. 

A post on Facebook by Ginge Adkins, husband of Claire Adkins, was widely shared. 

Organised by the families of Claire and Courtney, the family and friends of Leo Painter are also invited to attend the balloon release.

The 43-year-old who had been married to Claire for two years but they had been together 23 years and have three children together - Jamie, 19, Jake 18 and Ryan, 13.

He said it was a measure of how much Claire was loved that 1,300 people attended her funeral.

"She was bubbly. She was a friend to everyone. She never had an argument with anyone in her life.  She was just that type of person. She was kind-hearted. But if she had something to say she didn't beat around the bush. She said what she thought. Everything she did, she did for us," he said.

But he said the sentence was not enough, working out at four years for every life he had taken. 

Mr Adkins said the previous incident on the roundabout where the BMW span showed Tyler's 'disregard for life'.

"The only one serving a life sentence is us - the families," he said.

RECOMMENDED READING: A44 Spetchley fatal crash video shows Tyler's high speed

RECOMMENDED READING: A44 Spetchley fatal crash driver Joe-Lewis Tyler jailed

Tyler was speeding at around 90mph on flooded roads with expired insurance when he ploughed into a taxi pulling out of a junction during the incident at around 3.09pm on Monday, February 22.

Tyler himself was badly injured in the crash, spending three weeks in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, suffering a broken shin and ankle and requiring spinal surgery.

His passenger, Miles Smith-Green, also suffered serious injuries including a damaged spleen and dislocated hip.