RELATIVES of victims who died when a former Minehead police inspector crashed his car after an alcohol-fuelled evening abroad have hit out after he walked free from court.

Keith Bridges (right) was months away from retiring from the Minehead force when he came off the road just yards from his home in the Dordogne region of France in June 2006.

He survived with a broken leg but his wife Julie, 42, step-daughter Bethany Lowe, ten, family friend Andrew Dyer, 41, from Bridgwater, and his ten-year-old daughter Gabriella, died. Mr Dyer’s wife Tracey, son Kieran, and daughter Charlotte, survived.

Bridges was handed a two-year suspended sentence at a tribunal in Bergerac, France, on Tuesday for ‘homicide involontaire’ – a charge akin to manslaughter – while drink-driving.

He was also ordered to pay 200 euro (£180) for driving offences and was banned from the road for two years.

The 52-year-old showed no emotion as sentence was passed – but Mr Dyer’s family was overcome.

Andrew’s father Noel Dyer, 67, said: “I wanted justice but this is not justice. I thought the British justice system was bad enough but this is ten times worse.”

During a trial last month, the court heard Bridges got behind the wheel of his overloaded Jeep following an evening drinking alcohol with friends.

An inquest held in Taunton during October heard he was found to be three times the French drink-drive limit and almost twice the UK limit.

Police estimated he was driving at around 101kmh (62mph) at the time - over the advisable limit of 70kmh, or 43mph.

Gary Lowe, Bethany's father, is also pursuing a civil case after the crash, which is expected to be re-examined at the same court on April 12.

A statement from the Lowe family said: "For three and a half years, we have waited patiently and silently for justice for Beth - Beth has not had justice. The sentence given in France is an insult."

Bridges spent 30 years with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and was sergeant in Williton between 1986 and 1988. He was Minehead sector inspector for four years.