British justice

Grieving Yvonne Adamson is facing her second Christmas without daughter Hayley, who was killed instantly last May when PC John Dougal hit her with his patrol car in Newcastle's West End. The officer had reached speeds of 94mph in a 30mph zone, without either his sirens or blue lights engaged to warn pedestrians and other drivers.

He will be given three-days' leave from his three-year jail sentence - of which he has served just eight months - between Christmas Day and New Year's Day to visit his family. Mrs Adamson was outraged by the generous terms of his imprisonment.