Uninsured speeding driver with poor eyesight killed 80-year-old pensioner and then drove off

A speeding driver who hit and killed a pensioner before fleeing the scene has been jailed.

Amaan Isa, of College Road, Alum Rock, who was banned from driving at the time, struck 80-year-old Irshad Begum as she tried to cross Washwood Heath Road on 5 April this year.

He then drove off in the VW Golf before abandoning the vehicle in a car park around half-a- mile away.

Witnesses - including an off-duty PC - believed Isa was travelling well in excess of the 30mph speed limit on the Birmingham route.

Isa handed himself into a police station later the same day. He believed he was travelling at around 40mph and panicked after hitting the pedestrian.

Mrs Begum had been crossing Washwood Heath Road in Hodge Hill near to her home when she was struck at around 4.35pm and suffered "catastrophic injuries".

Robert Price, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said just before the collision two police officers on foot saw a VW Golf being driven at excessive speed and heard an 'engine roaring'.

He said shortly afterwards they were informed by members of the public that the vehicle had been involved in a collision.

A driver also heard the roaring of the engine and saw Mrs Begum try to move out of the way but was then thrown into the air on to the central reservation.

Mr Price said the driver, Isa, did not stop but "pressed on," clipping another car and overtaking and undertaking other vehicles to get away.

The 28-year-old from Erdington, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, being behind the wheel while disqualified and having no insurance.

He was jailed for six years and eight months at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today. He was also banned from the roads for five years and four months.

'Our family is broken', victim's daughter says

In a statement the victim's daughter, Naazima Kauser, said: "On April 5 just after 4pm mum left her home for a quick trip to the local shops but never returned home.

"Mum was struck on the way back, just a few minutes walk away from her home."Mum was a loving and caring individual who was loved by many. It breaks our hearts to accept that she will never return home to us.

"Our family is broken and our lives will never be the same again."

'You had no licence, no insurance and were disqualified', judge says

Passing the sentence, Judge Avik Mukherjee said: "You have been given a warning by the court before but you failed to heed those warnings with devastating and tragic consequences.

"Your driving on April 5 has destroyed many lives, most significantly Mrs Begum who has paid the ultimate price and has lost her life.

"You have destroyed the lives of all of her friends and family. You drove when you should have never been driving a car.

"You had no licence, no insurance and were disqualified. You drove at excessive speed, almost twice the legal limit."You admitted you were not wearing glasses and you told the police that you needed to wear them for everything.

"You made a determined effort to leave the scene and distance yourself from this criminal behaviour."

He said that the roaring witnesses had heard indicated Isa had been driving with "aggressive acceleration."

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: "Isa knew he had struck a pedestrian at speed but rather than stop and try to help, he fled the area as quick as possible. 

"He must have felt a huge amount of guilt and at least by handing himself in, and accepting his actions, he has saved Mrs Begum's family further prolonged pain."

Graham Henson, defending, said that Isa had given himself up to the police, that he was remorseful and ashamed about what he had done.