DEVASTATED families will take their fight to Downing Street after they learned the 'soft' sentence of a death crash driver who killed three people would not go to the Court of Appeal.

The decision over killer driver Joe-Lewis Tyler's sentence was branded 'appalling' and a 'kick in the teeth' by the families of those who died in the A44 crash in Spetchley, near Worcester. 

Joe-Lewis Tyler was sentenced to 19 years and two months at Worcester Crown Court after he ploughed into a taxi, killing two women and a child.

The decision not to allow the case to proceed to appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme came as a hammer blow to families when it was announced on Monday by the Attorney General's Office.

MISSION: Ginge Adkins on his wedding day to Claire Adkins with their three sons MISSION: Ginge Adkins on his wedding day to Claire Adkins with their three sons (Image: Supplied by Ginge Adkins)

This sentence was increased from 18 years already after Judge James Burbidge KC realised he had made a mathematical error when calculating the original sentence following the crash which killed Leo Painter, six, child escort Claire Adkins, 39, and driver, Courtney Hemming, 26.

The increased sentence means, with good behaviour, Tyler will be released on licence after 12 years and nine months instead of the original 12 years.

KILLER: Joe-Lewis Tyler admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving but his sentence has been attacked as 'soft' by families and friends of the victims (Image: West Mercia Police)

Tyler, 34, of Grenville Road, Dines Green, was driving an uninsured BMW at 90mph in a 50mph road and was over the limit for alcohol and cocaine and cannabis metabolites as he drove to see a friend in Badsey on February 22. 

The family had already appealed against the sentence but maintained the new, revised sentence was still too lenient.

LOVED: Courtney Hemming (left), who was killed in the crash, with her aunt Tracy Hemming, who says the families will fight on for justice after what they see as a lenient sentence for Joe-Lewis Tyler LOVED: Courtney Hemming (left), who was killed in the crash, with her aunt Tracy Hemming, who says the families will fight on for justice after what they see as a lenient sentence for Joe-Lewis Tyler (Image: Supplied by Tracy Hemming) Family members of crash victims reacted with anger and disappointment to the ruling but vowed to take the fight to 10 Downing Street.

PROTEST: Last month's balloon release in Brickfields Park was a way of the community coming together to unite against what they see as a lenient sentence for driver Tyler who killed three people (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Ginge Adkins, 43, husband of Claire, said: "We just feel let down as a family. If I've got to go to Downing Street I will. If I've got to knock on the door of number 10 Downing Street, I will. I don't know what the process is but we're looking at options on how to fight on.

"It's just another bump in the road. We're not giving up."

The couple has three sons - Jamie, 19, Jake 18 and Ryan, 13.

LOVED: Courtney Hemming who died in the crash on the A44 Spetchley Road LOVED: Courtney Hemming who died in the crash on the A44 Spetchley Road (Image: Supplied by family)

Luke Bridger, who had been due to marry Courtney Hemming, said he was 'appalled' by the Solicitor General's decision not to let the case proceed to appeal. 

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Tracy Hemming, 45, of Ambleside Drive, Warndon, auntie of Courtney and cousin of Claire, said: "We're just really disappointed. It just makes us feel those three lives didn't matter. Twelve years spent in prison is nothing. But we will fight it all the way. Courtney, Claire and Leo - their lives mattered more than anything else.

"We will keep on fighting until we get justice. It's devastating. It's another kick in the teeth for the families."

JUSTICE: The fight continues for families following the death of Courtney Hemming, pictured here with her son JUSTICE: The fight continues for families following the death of Courtney Hemming, pictured here with her son (Image: Supplied by family)

Claire's mum, Julia Earlam, 62, of Brickfields, said: "We know they gave him the sentence they could. It's the fact he's coming out after 12 years and nine months on licence - to come into the community. He had no respect for the community that day. He got in that car and did what he did.

"He went out, got drunk, drugged and he was speeding, nearly took three other cars off the road.

"He should be in prison for those 19 years. We feel really angry. The police did everything they could. They got the evidence."

The Solicitor General Sarah Sackman MP said: “I was deeply saddened by this case and my deepest sympathies are with the families of Courtney Hemming, Claire Adkins and Leo Painter at this terrible time.

"However, after careful consideration I have concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal. The threshold for referral is a high one, and the test was not met in this case.”