Heartache over jail term for porn trucker in death smash

And at just 20 years-old Laura Jane Thomas had her whole of her life in front of her.

But the teaching assistant, whose natural caring instincts saw her work closely with disabled children and those with special needs, was killed in a horror crash as truck driver Ian Glover ploughed into her broken down car.

He had not seen the Vauxhall parked up with hazard lights flashing on the hard shoulder of the A5 between Telford and Shrewsbury in Shropshire because he was browsing explicit dating websites on mobile phones.

As a result of the smash, the car flew over the barrier, killing Miss Thomas, of Great Haywood, and her fiancé Mr Pagett, 19, of Rugeley, was left seriously injured.

Glover, 44, was jailed for five years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at Shrewsbury Crown Court but is likely to only serve half of that behind bars.

The family of a bride-to-be today described the trucker's five-year prison sentence as 'heartbreaking' but vowed to keep Laura's 'sparkle' alive.

Mum Lisa, 45, dad David, 47, and sister Gemma, 19, have been left devastated by the tragedy.

"To sit and listen to the factual reasons as to why the accident was caused was sickening," said Mrs Thomas.

"To know that potentially Mr Glover could reapply for his driving licence in five years' time and have the option to live a normal life having taken Laura's just a short time ago is heartbreaking," she said.

"It is soul destroying to realise how avoidable this all could have been.

"Lewis and Laura did everything possibly right in the situation of their car breaking down with reports proving the engine fault could not have been previously detected. They stood behind the barrier and called for help.

"To lose her life so young when she had everything and to watch the rest of our family suffer in the loss of Laura is unbearable and our lives will never be the same."

Laura worked full time as a teaching assistant at Marshlands Special School and on Wednesday evenings volunteered at Riding for the Disabled Association at Ingestre. She had also put her name forward to give respite care to parents with disabled children.

She studied her A-levels at the Aelfgar Centre in Rugeley and worked part time at WH Smiths in Stafford while studying.

She was described as having an 'incredible work ethic' and as being a 'beautiful person inside and out'.

The family have now vowed to keep Laura's spirit alive and are to start fundraising in her name supporting three charities: Riding for the Disabled Association, Marshlands School, and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Friends and family have also made friendship bracelets as a memento and designed car stickers in her memory.

And on June 22 they will take part in a sponsored walk around Cannock Chase from Birches Valley.

Two of her best friends and an aunt are also doing a sponsored sky dive on June 15.

Mrs Thomas said: "This is a very positive thing. We want to keep Laura's sparkle alive and will be fundraising in her name. Laura had worked a Marshlands Special School and volunteered at the Riding for the Disabled in Ingestre - she was bright and had a natural loving nature which we want to continue."

A website www.littlelaura.net has been set up which includes a fashion blog Laura had started. There is also a Little Laura Facebook page set up by her family.