Man jailed for dangerous driving

A second-hand car salesman who lost control of a BMW and killed a pensioner while racing against another vehicle has been jailed for four years.

Luke Godden, 24, of Bond Road, Gillingham, Kent, was racing on Hoath Way in December 2002 when he ploughed through the central reservation.

He hit a car carrying Leonard Shipp, 83, who died in the collision, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

He was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, a charge he denied.

'Immeasurable' loss

The motor trader, who had been racing his boss' BMW Z3 against a white van, denied overtaking on the inside lane and claimed he had lost control after braking.

Jailing him, Judge Warwick McKinnon said: "Human life cannot be restored, nor can its loss be measured by the length of prison sentence.

"No term of months or years can reconcile the family of the deceased, nor can it cure their anguish."

Godden was also disqualified from driving for five years.