Dangerous driver who killed 'loving angel' in Smethwick was twice over drink and drive limit

The defendant, aged 35, was described by witnesses as driving at high speeds through the streets of neighbouring Bearwood before losing control of the borrowed car at the same time that the carer was being dropped off outside her home at about 9.25pm by colleague Manveer Kaur.

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Sentencing Aliaj on Monday Judge Michael Chambers KC said: "Manveer Kaur had parked her car in Thimblemill Road with the tyres  on the pavement. Baljit Kaur left the vehicle and was proceeding to go home. You approached from behind  and accelerating at some 88mph immediately before the collision. You collided not just with the rear of the vehicle which the deceased had been in, but also a number of others. There were five vehicles involved in total.

"You clearly lost control of your vehicle due to the speed at which you were travelling and has you were doing the carer was  struck by the vehicle while she was on the pavement. Her injuries were so extensive that she died at the scene."

"I take into account your mitigation factors, these are you have no previous record and your remorse. You agreed not to have a pre-sentence report carried out, your psychology report, your character references and I accept that your remorse is genuine. This is your first conviction and first period in custody."

Mr Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting, said the defendant's breath test measured 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath following the incident. And of three wraps of cocaine were found on him. Tests showed the level of drugs was consistent with it being ingested  24 hours  before the collision happened.

Mr Shakoor said a witnesses had described the the car has passing them like a "missile" moments before it careered from the carriageway in rainy weather.

He said witness Dara Racher was the front seat passenger in the Mercedes being driven by Aliaj and she told officers, he was a friend and they met up at a Bearwood Road coffee shop for a chat before he offered to give her a lift home in his "new car". She told officers that the defendant was speeding and despite her pleas he ignored her requests to him to slow down.

In mitigation, Mr Bal Singh said the defendant was hardworking, however, his relationship had broken down at the time and he blamed this for his actions on the fateful night.

Father-of-two Aliaj, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to an offence of causing Mrs Kaur's death by dangerous driving at a previous hearing. He was assisted at the hearing by an Albanian interpreter. 

He was jailed for 10 years and six months reduced from 14 years due to his early guilty plea. He was also given a 13-year extended road ban and must take an extended test before getting behind the wheel in future.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cocaine found on the defendant after the collision.

The court heard that Aliaj had been in the UK since 2009.