A speeding driver who tried to lure another motorist into a street race before crashing into an elderly couple’s car has been jailed for causing the fatal road smash.

James Mills was travelling at more than 70mph in a 40-zone along Pedmore Road, Brierley Hill, and undertaking vehicles in his Ford Focus ST when he slammed into a car turning into The Gateway. Vijaya Mistry, a front seat passenger in the car being driven by her husband, suffered critical injuries and the 75-year-old later died in hospital.

Mills – who had no previous criminal convictions – was arrested at the scene on February 3rd and admitted responsibility for the collision having tried to entice another road user into a race.

The 23-year-old, from School Road in Brierley Hill, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court, on Friday 30th June where he was jailed for five years and four months for causing death by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for almost a decade and will have to pass an extended re-test in order to ever get his licence back. PC Mark Crozier from West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit, said:

“Mills was a young man driving an extremely powerful sports car. When at the controls of such cars there comes with it a huge onus of responsibility.

“This is a terribly sad case that shows the dangers of driving recklessly – even just for a matter of seconds – it can have catastrophic and life changing consequences. Mills was essentially using a public road as a race track, showed a total disregard for other road users and gave no thought for the devastation he could cause.

“I know the prison sentence imposed on him will never fill the void left within the victim’s family and I extend my condolences to them.

“I’m sure there are many more young men driving similarly powerful cars across the West Midlands. This case should act as a stark reminder of the dangers of driving dangerously – it can kill and ruin lives, including their own.”