A DOCTOR walked free from court today over the death of a motorcyclist after she drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway.

Dr Thuli Whitehouse, 27, was given a 51-week prison sentence but it was suspended for two years by a judge who at her trial had called her a "golden young woman".

She was also banned from driving for four years and must do 150 hours' community work.

The Murrell family later issued a statement through Thames Valley Police which said: "We are very upset by the verdict reached today.

"We appreciate no sentence will bring back our son and father, but we feel the sentence is far too lenient and we will be appealing against the sentence."

Whitehouse had been found guilty by a jury of causing the death of motorcyclist Robert Murrell, of Southmoor, near Abingdon, in a crash on the A420 near Appleton in June last year.

Whitehouse turned left, the wrong way, out of the Appleton junction and drove for a short distance down the eastbound carriageway and into the path of Mr Murrell, 33. He was killed and the doctor's boyfriend, Dr Hugh Grant-Peterkin, critically injured.

During her trial, the jury heard that Mr Murrell, of Southmoor, near Abingdon, was travelling at speeds of between 87mph and 103mph and died instantly.

Judge David Morton Jack was told Whitehouse missed nine separate road markings and signs instructing her to turn left on to a dual carriageway.

Instead, the doctor drove straight across the A420, near Appleton, to reach a gap in the crash barriers to get to the opposite side of the road.

The jury heard from witnesses who saw her at the end of the side road on to the busy road, reverse and then go to the other side of a traffic island.

Whitehouse, of Upper Cheltenham Place, Bristol, told the jury that she must have been "confused" and would never drive dangerously.

The jury took less than an hour to find her guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Today, Judge Morton Jack again paid tribute to Whitehouse and her career as a doctor. He said he had received a number of tributes and he believed this was such an exceptional case that he could suspend her prison sentence.

He said she had a good driving record and no previous convictions of any sort.

"Your character and career are exceptional, indeed golden."

He added: "You have had to live with the knowledge and effect of the grave injuries you caused your partner.

"I take into account the very large number of tributes and references to you."