"He was travelling more than twice the speed limit"
Mohammed Islam, aged 22, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, was jailed for two years and five months for causing the death of a pedestrian. The motorist drove at 72mph through roadworks when he struck the victim.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that he was travelling at more than twice the speed limit in Birmingham city centre.
He ran over Alexander Knight near a pedestrian crossing from Bristol Street to Bristol Road before driving away from the scene.
Anthony Warner, prosecuting, said: “Mr Knight was 38 and tragically died as a result of injuries he received when the defendant’s car struck him.
“He was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing from Bristol Street to Bristol Road.”
The incident occurred at around 1:30 am on December 1, 2018, at a junction where roadworks were going on.
Islam had been to the cinema with two friends and was returning home.
Mr Warner explained: “He travelled that route daily to and from work and he knew of the roadworks.
“This is a case of dangerous driving by excessive speed.
“He was travelling more than twice the speed limit and was travelling too fast for the prevailing conditions, namely the roadworks.”
Islam had driven from Five Ways and then along Lee Bank Middleway towards the junction where the road goes downhill.
The speed limit is 40mph, but it reduces to 30mph 100 yards before the intersection.
A pedestrian crossing had been blocked off by barriers and there was a crossing point further down the road.
However, the barriers had been removed and that is where Mr Knight, who had been drinking, started to cross before he was struck in the second lane by Islam’s Seat Leon.
The motorist drove home but later handed himself in to police.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Balbir Singh, defending, said that even if the motorist had been driving at 30mph, a collision would have occurred and that Mr Knight had been wearing dark clothing.
He said: “This is a young man.
“That evening he did not go out drinking. He did not go out drug-taking. He went to the local cinema with two friends.
“He is a deeply religious individual and this incident has hit him particularly hard.”
Judge Francis Laird QC told Islam: “Mr Knight was crossing at the junction and you never saw him.
“Your vehicle collided with him, particularly on the near-side wing.
“He was thrown up into the air and suffered catastrophic and fatal injuries. He died at the scene.”
“You were aware you had struck someone but you drove on.
“I am quite satisfied that at the point you left the scene your thought was to avoid detection. That is a significant aggravating feature.
“I have listened to the victim impact statement read out by Mr Knight’s partner.
“His life has been completely changed by the events of that night. He was in a long, loving and stable relationship that was taken away from him.
“You were driving at dangerously excessive speed through a city centre junction.”
Islam was jailed for two years and five months. He was also banned from driving for seven years and three months.
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