Girl's killer in sentence appeal

Bennett drove at speeds of up to 90mph, the court heard

A banned driver who was jailed for life after his girlfriend was fatally hurt in a car crash, is appealing against the length of his sentence.

Kirsty Cash, 17, died after Andrew Bennett, 20, crashed his car on the outskirts of Sheffield in April 2006.

Bennett was given an indeterminate life sentence after admitting manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Court in September.

Miss Cash's father Stanley said news of the appeal had left him feeling "sick and appalled."

The court had heard Miss Cash might have survived the crash, but Bennett failed to call an ambulance for 45 minutes.

Bennett, from Sheffield, admitted manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and driving while disqualified.

He was told he must spend at least four-and-a-half years in jail before he could be considered for parole.

'Prolific criminal record'

Mr Cash received news of Bennett's appeal in a letter.

He said: "It brings it all back. It's like rubbing salt into old wounds. I felt sick and appalled really."

Mr Cash said he and his wife were finding it hard to cope with their daughter's death and were receiving counselling.

"This was our first Christmas without Kirsty but we don't celebrate Christmas, we don't put our cards up. We can't celebrate because she's not here."

Help was called only after Kirsty was taken away from the crash scene

The court heard Bennett had a prolific criminal record, was high on drink and drugs at the time of the crash and was driving at speeds reaching 90mph (145km/h).

The Subaru left the road, collided with a series of trees and then turned on its side and Kirsty Cash was thrown through the windscreen.

Kirsty was taken to Bennett's Sheffield home before an ambulance was called.

The delay probably led to her death, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Bennett's mother Linda Bennett, 48, her partner Robin Scholes, 39, and a friend Steven Scott, 19, all admitted a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and were jailed for six months.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Alan Goldsack QC, said Bennett posed a risk to the public and an indeterminate life sentence was the right course of action.