THE family of a hit-and-run victim who saw the driver jailed said: "No sentence is long enough to justify his untimely death."

Soldier Stephen Brough was standing on the road outside his home in Ilkeston when he was hit by a car driven by Colin Brown.

The father-of-three died despite attempts by his daughter, Chelsey, and a friend to save him.

Yesterday Brown was jailed for 30 weeks after admitting causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and failing to report a road traffic collision.

Sgt Brough's family said in a statement last night: "We are sorely disappointed at the level of punishment passed for such a crime."

Derby Crown Court heard how Sgt Brough, who served in the British Army for more than 20 years, was saying goodbye to guests who had visited his house when he was struck.

He died shortly after midnight on September 7 last year.

The Brough family had been celebrating Chelsey's admission to university at their home in Heanor Road.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said Sgt Brough was standing on the road by the door of a friend's vehicle when witnesses heard "a loud bang and a massive blow".

The collision saw Sgt Brough thrown 10m.

Brown, of Church Street, Ilkeston, did not stop but drove on to his father's home a short distance away, parked his car and immediately went to the pub across the road.

His wife had been in the car with him at the time of the accident, the court heard.

Mr Watson said: "The following day Mr Brown and his wife were seen by a neighbour who mentioned to them there had been a hit-and-run and a fatality.

"His wife was noted to lose all colour from her face and the defendant's behaviour was sufficiently strange and unusual to the neighbour that she went on two occasions to look at his vehicle for damage, which was clearly evident, and she called the police."

Brown visited Ripley police station two days after the smash and told officers: "I have come to give myself up."

In a statement read in court, Sgt Brough's wife Caroline said his death was "tragic, avoidable and unforgivable".