A DUDLEY mum has slammed the “ridiculous” sentence given to the drunken killer of her teenage son.

David Gibbs, aged 23, (pictured left) was jailed for four years after his car ploughed head-on into the car of Shaun Billingham (right).

He had downed eight pints and smoked cannabis before getting behind the wheel.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Monday how Gibbs drove on the wrong side of the road in Newtown Lane, Cradley Heath, and smashed into Mr Billingham's car, killing the 18-year-old who was on his way home from work at the nearby Tesco.

Judge Hilary Watson told Gibbs, of Crimmond Rise, Halesowen, it was clear he was incapable of controlling his vehicle and, from the moment he got behind the wheel, a crash was inevitable.

She said: “You caused a head-on collision and you will have to live with the consequences for the rest of your life.”

Gibbs admitted causing death by careless driving when he was over the prescribed alcohol limit and was also disqualified from driving for six years.

The Judge said Mr Billingham was clearly not responsible for the “terrible” consequences that befell him on the night of November 28 and told Gibbs it was clear he had consumed “large quantities” of alcohol.

She said: “You made a fateful decision to drive.

“Whatever possessed you to take that fateful decision we will never know.

“You were quite incapable of safely driving any vehicle in that condition.”

Warren Stanier prosecuting said Gibbs' Vauxhall Astra moved to the wrong side of the carriageway near the Holly Bush pub and collided head-on with Mr Billingham's Rover 214.

Former Hillcrest School pupil Shaun, of Warrens Hall Road, was not wearing a seat belt and was trapped inside his smashed vehicle having suffered multiple injuries. He died at the scene.

The court also heard that when Gibbs was arrested, he smelt of alcohol, his speech was slurred and he was struggling to stand up.

A breath test later revealed he was two and a half times over the permitted alcohol limit and had also been using cannabis.

There were no witnesses to the accident, said Mr Stanier, and an investigation into the collision confirmed the cause was the movement of Gibbs' car onto the wrong side of the road.

Jas Mann defending said Gibbs was full of remorse for the deep anger and hurt suffered by the family of Mr Billingham and added: “No sentence will reduce in any way the fact a promising young life has been cut short.”

However speaking to the News after the verdict, Tracey Billingham, Shaun's mum, said her son's killer should have got a longer jail term.

She said: “Four years is nothing for Shaun's life.

“He will only serve two years.

“It makes me angry to think he was drunk and was on drugs.

“They kept saying Shaun was in the wrong place at the wrong time but he had only just finished work.

“He was happy and was on his way home.

“It makes me mad to think he then met that drunk on the road – and he hasn't even said sorry to us.”

Tracey added: “The judge also disqualified him from driving for six years but that is running now while he is prison.

“That is unfair, it should start when he is released from prison.”

Mum-of-nine Tracey, who sat in court with her family wearing T-shirts bearing Shaun's name and photo, said life is still difficult for them all.

She added: “The children still don't want to talk about it.

“They haven't come to terms with his death and his young niece and nephews keep asking when Shaun's legs will be mended so he can come home.

“The kids also won't go into his bedroom – they don't even want his door unlocked.

“It is exactly how he left it on that day.”