Merry Hill death crash driver fails to get sentence cut
A man from the West Midlands whose dangerous driving left a pensioner dead has failed to convince top judges to cut his jail term.
James Mills, aged 23, of School Road, Brierley Hill, was jailed for five years and four months at Wolverhampton Crown Court last June.
He admitted causing the death of Vijaya Mistry, 74, by dangerous driving near Merry Hill, Mr Justice Green told London’s Appeal Court yesterday.
WATCH: Speeders race before fatal crash
Mills was behind the wheel of his Ford Focus, which he had modified to increase its power, on February 3 last year.
He was driving on the 40mph A4036 Pedmore Road, Brierley Hill, when he hit a Ford Mondeo being driven by the victim’s husband.
The car went into a spin and front seat passenger Mrs Mistry, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car.
Mills had been racing against a Citroen for 1,000 to 1,500 metres before the collision, said the judge.
He had been overtaking and undertaking other cars and his average speed was estimated at 73mph.
He accepted that he had ‘been an idiot’ and that he and the other driver had been ‘playing around’.
Lawyers for Mills argued that his jail term was far too tough and should be reduced.
They pointed to his relative youth, no previous convictions, prompt confession and remorse.
But Mr Justice Green ruled there was nothing manifestly excessive or wrong in principle about Mills’ punishment.
Sitting with two other judges, he concluded: “We refuse this application for permission to appeal.”
