A doctor who killed a motorcyclist walked free from court yesterday after a judge spoke of her "golden" character and career.

Thuli Whitehouse, 27, was given a 51-week jail sentence suspended for two years after a jury convicted her of killing father-of-two Robert Murrell by dangerous driving on the A420 near Appleton in June last year.

Whitehouse, described by the judge as a "golden young woman", was also banned from driving for four years and ordered to complete 150 hours' community service.

The sentence was met with fury from Mr Murrell's wife and family, who branded it "far too lenient" and said they would appeal.

Road safety group Brake called the sentence "an absolute outrage".

The court heard that Whitehouse drove on the wrong side of a traffic island at the junction, and into the path of Mr Murrell, 33, of Southmoor, near Abingdon.

Mr Murrell was travelling at between 87mph and 103mph and was killed instantly. Whitehouse's boyfriend, Dr Hugh Grant-Peterkin, was badly injured.

Judge David Morton Jack was told Whitehouse missed nine separate road markings and signs instructing her to turn left on to a dual carriageway.

Instead, she drove across the eastbound carriageway of the A420 to reach a gap in the crash barriers to get to the opposite side.

The jury heard from witnesses who saw her reverse down the slip road on to the A420 and go to the other side of a traffic island.

Whitehouse, of Upper Cheltenham Place, Bristol, told the jury she must have been "confused".

At Oxford Crown Court today, Judge Morton Jack said Whitehouse should be jailed, but the mitigating factors in her case were "exceptional" and he had received many references.

He told her: "Your failures were gross. You caused the death of Mr Murrell and seriously injured your partner Dr Grant-Peterkin.

"The deceased, however, was also at fault for the collision. He must be taken to have been riding his motorbike at 100mph or more."

Mr Murrell's wife Carol, 34, said they could not believe the sentence. She said: "We expected she would have been given at least 18 months for what she did.

"Where is the justice? A life was taken and if you are responsible for taking a life then you should suffer some form of punishment by going to jail."

Mrs Murrell, who lives in Worcester Place, Southmoor, with their children Shadene, 17 and Jordan, 11, said his death had left a "huge hole" in their lives.

She added: "Robert was irreplaceable. We are all still in shock over a year after the tragedy. All of us miss him so much."

Dr Grant-Peterkin said: "Our thoughts are with Mr Murrell's family at this time."