A PENSIONER who was left critically ill and widowed after a maniac driver smashed into his car believes the man should have been given a stiffer sentence.

Robert Chance was left with life-threatening injuries and his wife Joan was killed when Roy Pope crashed into their Nissan Sunny at high speed in April.

At Worcester Crown Court last Friday Pope was sentenced to six years in prison and was banned from driving for seven years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving and driving uninsured and without a licence.

But 65-year-old Mr Chance, of Knight Street, St John's, says he wanted Pope to serve the 10 year maximum sentence for the crime which has left his life in tatters.

"I am as pleased as I can be he has been punished, but I wish it had been for longer," he said.

"I would have preferred to see him go down for the full 10 years but it is not a bad result and the police are pleased.

"I am just glad it is all over so I can get my life back together.

"For the past four months I have been in a daze, it seems to have gone on for so long."

Mr Chance, his two daughters Sonia and Alison, son Robert and members of his wife's family were all at court to hear the verdict.

They heard how 32-year-old Pope, of Avon Road, Tolladine, had taken a cocktail of rum, anti-depressants, six diazepam tablets and had smoked cannabis before getting behind the wheel of his Ford Escort on April 10.

Ignoring desperate pleas not to drive, he sped off down residential streets at up to 80 miles per hour and smashed into the back of the couple's car in Lansdowne Road.

He fled the scene and was later arrested as he walked to his girlfriend's house eating a bag of chips.

The Chances were both rushed to Ronkswood Hospital, and Mr Chance later had to have three cracked ribs repaired and have his gall bladder removed.

He was only given the all-clear by the hospital last month.

Mrs Chance died as a result of her severe head injuries 10 days after the crash.