Father of young woman left to die in burning car by drunk joyrider hits out at 'disgraceful' sentence that means he could walk free in months

Published: 21:01, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 21:02, 22 June 2026 The father of a young mother killed in a car crash has said new sentencing rules which could see the driver freed in months are a 'mess'. Mark Jennings, whose daughter Grace Robinson was killed in February 2023 after becoming trapped in the back seat of a car which burst into flames when it ploughed into a tree, said it was 'disgraceful' that Thomas Peggs could be free by September. Peggs was 32 when he drove Grace, 20, and another woman, 18-year-old Macie Hall, at speeds of up to 80mph down a 30mph road after drinking three pints in a pub. After losing control of his powerful Jaguar XKR because of bumps in the road, the car hit a tree at more than 70mph near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and burst into flames. Peggs escaped but Grace, a mother-of-one, was left brain dead and her life support was withdrawn two days later. Macie spent eight months in hospital and was left with memory loss and cognitive impairment. She now requires round-the-clock care. Peggs, who was seriously injured and hospitalised after the crash, did not take a breathalyser test because of his injuries. A judge said he had been 'showing off to two young, pretty girls by taking them for joyride'. Grace Robinson, pictured with her son Tommy, was killed when Thomas Pegg drove at high speeds in his powerful Jaguar XKR to 'show off' to her and her friend Gracie Hall Pegg (pictured) had drunk three pints at a pub before the journey. Grace's father said it was 'disgraceful' that he could be freed by September under new sentencing laws Peggs was jailed for three years and four months in June last year but has reportedly been able to leave prison on day release. And Mr Jennings said Peggs had had his sentence reduced by almost a third because of new sentencing guidelines, potentially allowing him to walk free by September. Grace's father said the criminal justice system was a 'procedural mess', adding: 'Why do we even have judges if this happens? 'I have found this disgraceful. The whole story from beginning to end has been a disaster from a legal perspective. There is no punishment for him. Prison is more like a holiday camp for him. I find that very distressing.' Mr Jennings said his family had been 'forgotten about' after a prison representative assigned to them retired and was not replaced. Prison representatives work with victims' families on issues such as location restrictions: where a criminal is not allowed to go when out on day release to ensure they do not come across victims' relatives. Mr Jennings said he was also not told how to appeal against Peggs's sentence. 'All I got was a letter of apology, nothing more,' he said. 'In court, he was made out to be a model citizen,' Mr Jennings said. 'The emphasis now is on getting him into different phases of society. What is to say he does not go out and drive like that again?' Peggs was driving a Jaguar XKR, similar to the one above, at up to 80mph in a 30mph zone when it left the road, hit a tree and burst into flames He was sentenced to three years and four months in jail after admitting causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving last year Grace's father said there should be more ways for victims to appeal sentencing decisions. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'This government inherited a prison system in crisis and we are fixing it. 'Under our changes, prisoners who misbehave can face longer behind bars, and those convicted of the most serious crimes will be excluded from earlier release. Last year Peggs was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court. However, he had already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving and causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving. He had drunk three pints at the Woodman Cottage Inn, in Gorefield, Cambridgeshire, on the afternoon of February 3, 2023, meeting Grace there around 4pm. Around 40 minutes later the pair left the pub and drove to collect Macie from a beauty appointment. Grace was left brain dead after the crash and her family agreed to turn off her life support two days later  He then raced 'full throttle' out of the village before the car veered off the road and onto a grass verge where it hit the tree and caught fire. Data taken from the airbags showed the vehicle was still travelling at 71mph when it came to a crushing halt. After the crash passers-by helped Peggs out of the car but the two women were trapped in the back seats. They were all taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital where Grace died on February 5. Peggs's solicitor told Cambridge Crown Court last year the driver had no previous convictions and was now a 'broken man'. He added: 'There was no doubt that he was remorseful.' Alongside his prison sentence Peggs also received a four-year driving ban and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228. Detective Sergeant Craig Wheeler, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said after his sentencing: 'Yet again we see another case of young lives being ruined by a moment of stupidity behind the wheel of a car. 'No one, other than Peggs, will know why he decided to drive like he did on that day. His actions and reckless behaviour have taken the life of Grace and caused serious, life-changing injuries to Macie. 'My thoughts are with the families of both Grace and Macie and I hope this sentence helps give them at least some sense of closure. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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