Mohmed Patel was jailed for six years for causing the deaths of Rachel Murphy and Shelby Maher Pic: SWNS

A dangerous driver who killed two women on Brockholes Brow, moments after sending a text message to his girlfriend has lodged an appeal against his conviction.

Mohmed Salman Patel, 26, was found guilty of causing the deaths of Rachel Murphy, 23, and Shelby Maher, 17, by dangerous driving when he knocked them down as they crossed the road with friends on April 20, 2016.

Patel was jailed for six years at Preston Crown Court on August 7 2018 but last week he lodged an appeal in a bid to be released from jail, Blog Preston has learned.

The families of Rachel and Shelby have set up an online petition to block the appeal and are calling for the public to sign it.

Rachel Murphy and Shelby Maher

A family spokesman said: “Both families are seeking the public’s support against his appeal and for his too lenient sentence on which he will do just three years – in effect 1.5 years for each life he has taken.

“This has come at a time when both families are still trying to come to terms with their loss.”

During the trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury heard how Patel, of Carham Road, Blackburn, was distracted by a text message exchange with his girlfriend when he knocked down and killed Rachel and Shelby.

Read more: This is exactly what happened in Brockholes Brow crash

Patel claimed he had sent the message while he was at traffic lights and was not using his phone at the time of the collision but the jury rejected his account and found him guilty of causing the deaths of the girls by dangerous driving.

Read more: Man jailed after gun found in car in Fishwick

A spokesman for the CPS confirmed Patel had lodged his appeal at Preston Crown Court on September 24.

A timetable will be set out in due course for the legal process to take place.

The petition against Patel’s appeal can be found at Petitions24