THE family of battling Birmingham girl Cerys Edwards today claimed justice for their daughter after securing a landmark change in driving laws.

The tot’s dad Gareth thanked Birmingham Mail readers for backing their campaign for tougher punishment for motorists who caused serious injuries.

He spoke as Justice Minister Jack Straw announced today that the maximum sentence for dangerous drivers was to increase from two years to five.

Cerys, from Sutton Coldfield, was just one when she was left brain-damaged, paralysed and unable to breathe without a ventilator after being hit by speeding driver Antonio Boparan in November 2006.

Gareth said: “We want to say a big thank you to everybody who has supported Cerys, particularly Birmingham Mail readers. Cerys has made a little bit of history but we now need her to perform some medical miracles. We want her walking and talking.”

Millionaire’s son Boparan, from Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, was jailed for 21 months after being convicted of dangerous driving but was released after just six months.

If Cerys had died, he would have faced up to 14 years in prison.

Her family were told in October that the Government could not “afford” to increase sentences, but today the shock U-turn was announced.

Mr Straw called the family yesterday and said he was “disgusted” to hear that Boparan only served a six-month sentence.

He said: “Dangerous driving can destroy lives. We have listened with great care to the innocent victims. 

“As this is such an important and personal issue to those campaigning for this change to the law, I thought it appropriate to let them know as soon as possible that we are determined to make this important change.”

The new laws are expected to take a few months to come into force.

Gareth, a 44-year-old self employed builder, said he was delighted with Mr Straw’s decision and accused Boparan of failing to make good on promises to help Cerys.

“After 18 months of campaigning we feel relieved that they have listened to us.

“Perhaps it’s time now that Boparan himself got on with the fundraising and awareness work that he promised her when he was released early.

“We hope people like him will now think twice before driving so dangerously. No family should have to go through what we have gone through.

ANNOUNCING the change in the law, Jack Straw said: “On a recent visit to Birmingham I was asked about the law and the sentences that are given to drivers who cause serious injury on our roads.

“The question came in response to the case of Cerys Edwards, who was left paralysed, brain damaged and dependent on a ventilator after suffering horrific injuries in a crash caused by a dangerous driver in 2006.

“Her parents, backed by the Birmingham Mail, have been campaigning for the maximum sentence for dangerous driving to be increased to take account of cases where victims suffer serious, lifelong injuries.

“It is an issue I have been concerned with for many years. I am determined that ‘boy racers’ (98 per cent of those convicted of serious driving offences are male) who put lives at risk on our roads must not go unpunished.

“So far, we have rightly prioritised cases that have the most devastating consequences – increasing the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving from 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment.

“We have also created a new offence of causing death by careless driving, which carries a maximum five-year jail term.

“The result has been that those convicted of serious driving offences are less likely to receive a fine, more likely to go prison and will stay there for longer.

“Our roads are becoming safer. The number of deaths and serious injuries have fallen by 40 per cent in the last decade.

“However, these facts and statistics will provide no comfort to families whose lives have been torn apart by reckless and irresponsible drivers – families like that of Cerys Edwards.

“That is why I have announced today that the maximum sentence for dangerous driving is to be increased from two to five years.”