FAMILY of a student killed by a drunk hit-and-run driver are directly appealing to the PM to stop his early release.

Abigail Eggleston, 22, was struck by Liam Bowes, who had downed pints and shots at a party before getting behind the wheel.

Abigail Eggleston was killed by a drunk hit-and-run driver Credit: Unknown

Liam Bowes had downed pints and shots at a party before getting behind the wheel Credit: Unknown

Cowardly Bowes left Durham University law student Abigail for dead before speeding off and torching his car in a bid to destroy evidence.

He got 12 years for death by dangerous driving.

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But now just five months after he was sentenced and less than a year after ­losing their daughter, her devastated parents have been told he will get early release.

Abigail’s mother Mandy, 57, told The Jattvibe the news hit her “like a sledgehammer”.

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The family marked what would have been her 23rd birthday on Saturday before the Probation Service letter arrived on Monday.

It told them instead of serving two-thirds, which would have been eight years, he will now spend just six years in jail in a scheme to ease prison overcrowding

They urged No10 to ensure Bowes stays in jail, like the PM has vowed on PC Andrew Harper’s killers.

Mandy said: “My husband has severe MS. He’s traumatised by the loss of Abi and now he’s got the extra stress.”

Abigail’s dad Andy, 52, said: “The leniency of his sentence made us very angry. He may not even serve eight years. He killed our daughter.”

Durham Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said she was “deeply disappointed” Bowes could be released early.

The Ministry of Justice said it was “fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars”.