A grieving Shropshire father today welcomed the leniency shown by a judge to a new driver who caused the death of his “wonderful son” in a horror road smash.

Mark Humphreys, of Baschurch, said he was “glad” Kirsty Williams, 20, of Telford, walked free from court after she was sentenced for causing the death of his son Jonathan by dangerous driving.

Judge Simon Tonking said the case was so “exceptional” that a suspended jail sentence was appropriate.

He also acknowledged the wishes of Mr Humphreys, who pleaded with the court not to “waste another young life” by putting 20-year-old Williams behind bars.

At Stafford Crown Court yesterday, the judge sentenced new mum Williams to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years; a two-year driving ban and a six- month curfew between the hours of 4pm and 4am.

Mr Humphreys said today: “I’m really glad she (Williams) got to go home.

“I asked the judge to be lenient because I was desperately sorry for her family that they had to go through it all. I hope youngsters realise cars can be dangerous things and Kirsty was lucky she didn’t go to jail.”

Williams, of Baldwin Webb Avenue, Donnington, was the driver of a Vauxhall Corsa, which swerved across the road into an oncoming BMW in Huffley Lane, near Shrewsbury, in January 2008.

Williams and her three passengers were returning to Walford College from a trip to McDonald’s in Harlescott when she lost control on a bend.

One of her passengers, 17-year-old Jonathan, died as a result of the accident and two more were injured.

The court heard Williams was seriously injured in the crash and was now registered disabled.

Jonathan Edwards, for Williams, said she used crutches, could no longer dress herself and had given birth to a son five weeks ago.

Paying tribute to his son, Mr Humphreys added: “I miss him desperately and I still can’t go into his bedroom. I still miss him every day.”

Mr Humphreys also thanked police officer Mark Hobden and friend Carol Hanmer for their support in the wake of his son’s death.