The family of a man killed in a hit-and-run incident have called for tougher sentencing on so-called joy-riders.

Relatives of 30-year-old David Lewis, from Rhondda, south Wales, spoke out after the seven-and-a-half year sentence handed out on Monday to Stephen Jones.

Mr Jones, 25, ran over the father-of-two and left him dead in the road while he showed off to his friends at high speed in a stolen car.

Richard Lewis said the court should have handed down a longer sentence on Mr Jones for the death of his son.

He believes such cases should be dealt with as manslaughter.

"Giving him a bigger sentence would highlight the dangerous driving," he said.

"It has caused so much devastation with the family, it has been an absolute nightmare.

"Up until today, we were coming to terms with it, but the case has brought it back again. Time will be the healer."

Mr Lewis was killed as he walked home after a night out with his wife in the Rhondda.

Stephen Jones, 25, who was driving the car, had earlier been drinking and smoking cannabis, Merthyr Crown Court heard.

He had a string of motoring offences but had never had a driving licence or taken a test.

The court heard how after he ran into Mr Lewis, while doing twice the speed limit, he lost control of the car and it crashed into a wall.

Judge John Curran said Jones did nothing but flout the law.

Ran from the car

He and two other men ran from the car leaving Mr Lewis dead in the road.

Jones had already admitted causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving whilst banned and uninsured.

Barry Williams, from the Rhondda, who was also in the car, was jailed for three-and-half years.

A third defendant, 20-year-old Lewis Morgan, who also admitted to being in the car, will be sentenced next Monday.

At the time of the incident, the victim's wife, Sarah Lewis, said: "We were walking side by side and the next thing, a car came out of nowhere and he was gone. It happened so quickly."

The couple have two children, Kayleigh, 10, and Josh, aged three.

Friends and relatives of Mr Lewis laid cards and flowers at the scene of the crash.