ANGRY relatives and friends of a much-loved Huddersfield woman walked out of court as a judge told the speeding driver who killed her that he would not be going to jail.

Many were in tears as they left after hearing that Anthony Morrison would keep his freedom.

Sales manager Morrison knocked down 24-year-old Kayleigh Sylvester when he failed to see her crossing Leeds Road, Hillhouse, almost exactly a year ago.

Bradford Crown Court heard how the 39-year-old thought he had struck a bin or some other inanimate object and drove on to his nearby work premises.

As he later drove home in a different car, Morrison saw the emergency services at the scene and admitted to police that he had been the driver.

Analysis of CCTV footage and the scene revealed that Morrison’s Ford Mondeo was travelling at not less then 38mph on the 30mph road at the time of the fatal collision in March last year.

Morrison, who now lives in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by careless driving.

Judge Jonathan Rose sentenced him to a 12-month community order with a requirement to do 100 hours unpaid work for the community.

The court heard that Morrison had only gone back to his workplace that night to pick up something trivial and Judge Rose said the triviality only highlighted the tragedy of the case.

“If you had left it to pick up another time we would not be here,” the judge told Morrison.

The judge said Morrison had not been drinking, was not using a mobile phone or driving at grossly excessive speed.

“It is apparent that for reasons that I believe no-one is able to explain you failed to see Kayleigh and you struck her with your motor vehicle.

“You did not stop but I am satisfied and I accept that your failure to do so was because you were unaware that you had struck a person or indeed any living thing.”

Judge Rose said Kayleigh had been a much-loved woman, who despite suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, had led a very full and active life.

The judge highlighted the fact that in September 2010 Kayleigh had been invited to open the activity centre in Newsome because of the respect and esteem in which she was held.

He expressed his condolences to Kayleigh’s family and friends, but stressed that nothing he could do or say could compensate them for her untimely and tragic death.

About 30 friends and relatives had packed the public benches and other areas of the court.

The judge said Morrison was not a callous, careless or irresponsible man and it was evident that he was filled with remorse.

“As you concede through your counsel, your suffering is as nothing compared to the suffering of the family and friends of Kayleigh,” the judge told Morrison.

“Whilst you will doubtless bear the burden of what you have done for the rest of your life in the scales it is very little to what the family and friends of Kayleigh are enduring.”

Judge Rose explained that sentencing in such cases was difficult because on the one hand a young woman had lost her life, but on the other he was required by law to be mindful of the defendant’s culpability.

“Your fault, I conclude, lay in driving at eight miles an hour beyond the speed limit for that road and your failure to see Kayleigh for reasons which are not at all clear,” the judge told Morrison.

“I do not ignore Kayleigh when I pass this sentence, but I chose to follow the law as I am constrained to do and I have come to the conclusion that the prosecution and defence are right when they invite me to say your case falls into the third category.

“I have come to the conclusion that notwithstanding the outcome so far as Kayleigh is concerned, this is not a case in which it is appropriate to impose a prison sentence.

“Constrained as I am by the guidelines I propose to make a community order and that order that will last for 12 months.”

The judge’s decision led to family and friends who had packed the public gallery and other parts of the courtroom to stand up and walk out.

Click here to read our report on Kayleigh's family's feelings on the sentence and how they remember her.

In addition to the 12-month community order Judge Rose told Morrison he would have to take part in a road traffic offender programme and would also be banned from driving for 12 months.

Morrison’s barrister Mohammed Nawaz said it was desperately sad that a young lady had lost her life in this way and nothing the defendant could do would ease the suffering of her family and friends.

“He’s been quite up-front about the fault in this case,” said Mr Nawaz.

“He thoroughly regrets this incident and his expression of remorse is backed up by his guilty plea.”