THE father of killed Witney schoolgirl Liberty Baker has said more support is needed to stop bereaved families feeling alone and distressed.

Paul Baker, 47, has written to all MPs across the country calling for more victim support available for families who have lost someone through a road crash.

It comes after his 14-year-old daughter was knocked down by a car and killed on her way to school on June 30 last year.

Mr Baker, of Thorney Leys, Witney, said his family were left “devastated” after they struggled to find emotional support to help them come to terms with Liberty’s death.

He said: “We benefitted from having a close family and friends network but some people have not got that network around them.

“Especially in the first few weeks, you do not want to eat, you just cannot function.

“Victims of road deaths are discriminated against compared to other crimes.”

He said he believed families bereaved by road crashes had little access to caseworkers or a national support service, which are offered to victims of other crimes such as robbery.

He said although he had access to a family liaison officer and a charity helpline, his family lacked the personal and one-to-one emotional support they needed after Liberty’s sudden death.

Mr Baker said road safety charities were helpful directing the family on driving laws, but he wanted a national network set up to ensure families always get all the support they need.

He said: “It would be nice to save families the grief that we have been through. When you have not been through this before, the law is just a minefield.”

Mr Baker said he will also lobby the country’s 650 MPs to support stricter driving laws and harsher punishments for those convicted of dangerous driving offences.

He said it was “worrying” people charged with death by dangerous driving or careless driving can continue to drive until appearing in court for sentencing, if they are convicted.

Robert Blackwell, 19, was given a four-year jail sentence and a five-year driving ban after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at Oxford Crown Court in April.

Blackwell was speeding when his Citroen C2 mounted the kerb in Curbridge Road and struck Liberty as she walked to school.

Two other 14-year-old girls, who attended Henry Box School with Liberty, and Paul Cracknell, who was walking behind the girls, were also injured in the incident.