The parents of a watchmaker’s assistant, who was killed at a pedestrian crossing by a lorry driver, have remembered their son as a “gentle giant”.

Lorand Collins ran a red light on the A228 and didn’t see victim Jason Ford crossing the road to go to work in April last year.

Maidstone Crown Court was told how the 40 tonne HGV had swerved out as other traffic was stopping at the lights - and Collins had five-and-a-half seconds to see Mr Ford and stop safely.

But by the time he braked it was too late and 44-year-old Mr Ford, from Dartford, died at the scene from his injuries.

The driver was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Collins was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended test before getting back behind the wheel of a vehicle.

However, Mr Ford’s parents David, 71, and Carla, 70, said they were left “devastated” at the sentence.

“What’s a life worth? Is it worth 250 hours of community service? That means nothing to us,” said Mr Ford.

“I can’t accept he’s gone, it’s been really difficult for us. I go up and visit his grave every week.

“He lived here with us and we were close, we’d sometimes watch films together, he was a bit of a film buff like me, but he also liked his own space.

“Often he’d go and eat in his room and listen to his music and just enjoy himself there.

“He didn’t want to live in our pockets, and we didn’t want him to either - he was our gentle giant.”

Collins' defence barrister Alexander Stein told the court: "He wishes to express how deeply sorry he is for the pain he has caused Mr Ford's family and feels genuine remorse."

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told Collins: "There is no good reason for you not to have seen the lights. You were not paying due attention during those crucial seconds.

“What’s a life worth? Is it worth 250 hours of community service? That means nothing to us...” David Ford

"You deliberately ran the red light...and caused the victim's family the greatest harm imaginable causing the death of a young man and causing his family 'torment and suffering'"

The driver from Woodland Close had earlier admitted the charge of causing the death of Mr Ford by driving carelessly in April last year.

Ex-soldier Collins, who was invalided out of the forces after being hit by a drunk driver in Holland, had a clean licence before the accident. He has also been a special constable in Kent.

At their son’s funeral, Mr and Mrs Ford were surprised to see almost 100 guests in attendance, mainly from his work at a watch manufacturer in Kings Hill.

“Jason always said he didn’t think he had that many friends but clearly he did - there were so many people who knew and loved him,” Mrs Ford added.

“He was a quiet chap, but his work was his life, and that showed by how many people turned up to the service.

“It’s been so tough because I’m finding it difficult to walk these days and he used to help me with that as well. We miss him so much.”

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