A motorist who went through a red light and crashed, killing a four-year-old girl, was taken screaming from the dock as he was jailed for two years.

Patrick Allen, 21, who shook uncontrollably throughout the proceedings, collapsed on hearing that he would go to jail.

He screamed 'Oh my God' and had to be taken from the dock at Oxford Crown Court. He could be heard howling outside.

Allen, of Lime Crescent, Southwold, Bicester, had earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Sophia Keaney died after Allen went through a red light and crashed into her mother's car on the A4142 at the Cowley junction with Horspath in April last year. The family, of Rymers Lane, Cowley, were in court for the decision, but were too upset to talk about the verdict.

Robert Spencer Bernard, prosecuting, said: "They were returning home after collecting their children from a children's party."

Allen had been driving his Vauxhall Nova at 50-55 mph at the time of the crash.

Mr Spencer Bernard said: "Patrick Keaney said the driver did come over and try to help but when he saw the children in the back he went hysterical and couldn't do anything.

"He kept apologising and saying he was sorry.

"Other children were there, including three nephews, their ages ranging between three-and-a-half and seven years old."

One of the other passengers in the car suffered a gash which needed 12 stitches but everyone else apart from Sophia was unharmed. Mr Spencer Bernard said: "It was clearly a very traumatic incident for little children such as they were."

In a police interview, Allen accepted that he had seen the lights were red about 200 yards before.

He could give no explanation as to why he did not stop.

Sophia Keaney's mother handed a letter to the judge outlining the effect of the child's death on the family. During the proceedings family members could be heard whispering 'send him to jail'.

Mr William Carter, defending, said Allen was a quiet, decent and likeable young man who lived with his parents and sister and had few friends. He had been away from home only twice in 21 years. Mr Carter said: "It's right to say that the tragedy that has come to them and their grief is to those outside unimaginable.

"But I ask Your Honour to bear in mind this is a tragedy not simply for the family of that child but a tragedy for Patrick Allen's family and for him and he will have to live with the consequences of what he did for the rest of his life."

Judge Anthony King said Allen had snuffed out the child's life as a result of the accident and said that the tragedy would continue to bring grief to her relatives. He said the crime had to be seriously punished.

Story date: Saturday 30 January

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