THE daughters of “two gentle souls” who lost their lives after being hit by a car in Ponthir have called for the use of mobile phones at the wheel to become as “universally unacceptable” as drink driving.

Taylor Jay McDonnell, aged 21, of Carrow Road, Caerwent, was yesterday cleared of causing the deaths of Joyce and Denis Drew, both 86, by dangerous driving despite admitting being on the phone to her grandfather at the time of the collision.

The Drew’s daughter Sarah England said on behalf of her family that out of the tragedy, the only possible good would be for “the casual acceptance” of the use of mobile phones while driving to be changed.

The family of the couple, who had been married 54 years, also called the verdict “wholly unacceptable”, adding that the “sanctions for those who do use their phones should be considerably higher and, most importantly, more strictly enforced”.

McDonnell, who was also been cleared of a lesser charge of death by careless driving, admitted she did not see the couple who were crossing Caerleon Road until Mrs Drew hit the windscreen of her Toyota Aygo.

The hairdresser said she was speaking to her grandfather Francis McDonnell on loudspeaker when the crash happened but insisted she had pulled over into a side street to dial.

Speaking outside Newport Crown Court, Ms England said: “We will never come to terms with how these two gentle souls lost their lives in such a brutal and violent way.

“The only possible good that could come out of this tragedy is to change the casual acceptance of the use of mobile phones while driving.

“We would like public opinion and the law to change in the same way it has with drink driving.

“We call for the use of mobile phones at the wheel whether hands free or not, to be as universally unacceptable as drinking alcohol and being in control of a car.”

The sisters said they have many unanswered questions and will need space and time to process the events of the past week and “begin to fathom what for [them], is a wholly unacceptable outcome”.

McDonnell sobbed in the dock as the jury returned the not guilty verdicts on both counts, one for Mr and one for Mrs Drew, after deliberating for six hours.

During the week-long trial, defence barrister Jason Taylor called the crash a "tragic, tragic accident”.

He told the jury: “She wasn't speeding. She wasn't dialling. She wasn't reading or typing a text message. She was listening to somebody on speakerphone.”

Mrs Drew died shortly after the incident while Mr Drew, a former head teacher, was admitted to hospital where he died on November 19.

Their daughters Ms England and Helen Adam also paid tribute to the emergency services and members of the public who helped their parents at the scene of the accident.