THE family of a Newport nightclub doorman who died after a hit-and-run accident say the nine months' detention the car driver will serve is "a disgrace".

Heroin addict Ross Williams, 20, will be locked up in youth detention for a total of three years and nine months, a judge at Newport crown court decided.

But three years of that sentence was imposed for drugs offences, with nine months being imposed for driving offences relating to the crash which left Gareth Evans, 34, a father-of-two, fatally injured.

After the court hearing, a tearful Mr Evans' mother Janet said: "Williams left my son lying in the road...in the rain as he drove off to burn the car.

"Nine months is nothing but a disgrace. I'm disgusted and shocked Gareth's life meant so little.

"I have tried to forgive Williams because he is somebody's son - but there are two children without a father and we are left without a son."

Mr Evans' father Alan, from Caerleon, said: "I never thought he'd get such a small sentence. We were told he'd get three to five years just for the driving offences."

Williams, of St Woolos Place, was driving the car involved the crash in Queensway, Newport, on April 20, during which pedestrian Mr Evans, of Llanthewy Road, sustained severe head injuries. He died three days later.

On the evening of the crash, the court heard, Williams set fire to the Vauxhall Cavalier involved in the accident in Barracks Wood.

Williams had previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at an accident, failing to report an accident within 24 hours and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He also admitted driving without a driving licence or insurance.

The court heard that Williams was twice found with a large quantity of heroin since the death of 6ft 3ins Mr Evans, known to friends as a "gentle giant".

Williams was convicted of possessing heroin with intent to supply, a charge he denied while pleading guilty to being concerned with the supply of a controlled class A drug.

Williams, a drug addict since he left school aged 14 with no qualifications, was getting paid in small amounts of heroin by a Cardiff dealer for measuring and cutting the drug for him, the court heard.

Williams was caught with nearly 50 grams of heroin on an occasion in May, and another 85 grams in July.