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VIDEO: Jail for driver who knocked down 91-year-old as he sped to work

A driver has been jailed for three years after knocking down a 91-year-old when he was travelling at nearly twice the speed limit because he was late for work.

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Gurpreet Sandhu, 27, was clocked driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone when he struck Horace Downes, who was crossing the road to place a bet on horses.

Mr Downes - who was known to family and friends as John - died four months after the crash last November.

Sandhu, of Church Lane, Handsworth, previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court, where he was also banned from driving for seven years.

After the crash, in Sutton Coldfield, Mr Downes was taken to hospital with a life-threatening head injury and was eventually released a month later.

Gurpreet Sandhu

But in February this year, Mr Downes died as a result of infection after being readmitted to hospital.

Sgt Adam Green, from the regional collision investigation unit at West Midlands Police, said: "Gurpreet Sandhu was late for work on the day of the collision. He drove at twice the speed limit in heavy rain, in an area where the likelihood of pedestrians being present was high.

"He showed a complete disregard for the safety of other road users. As a result he has now been imprisoned and will have to live with the consequences of his actions. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.

"In his last days John and his family had to endure suffering due to the selfish actions of one individual.

"In allowing the graphic CCTV footage to be released, John's family hope that people will realise the impact of speeding and it will prevent another family suffering the same consequences."

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