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Gummy twin Paul Jones who was ginen eight years jail for causing death by dangerous driving

A NOTORIOUS Stourbridge yob who killed an innocent young mother in a car smash has been slammed behind bars.

Killer driver Paul Jones is this week beginning an eight year prison sentence for ploughing into Leanne Moore outside a pub in Cradley as he attempted to get away from cops.

Jones, aged 22, from Leonard Road, Wollaston, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday June 30.

As he caged Jones, Judge John Warner said: "It has to be a long sentence, save for multiple deaths this has got to be as bad a case of causing death from dangerous driving as you can get."

"There are so many aggravating factors I have to take care not to double count them."

Tragedy struck on Sunday March 2 in Barrack Lane outside The Widders Pub as Leanne said goodbye to friends as they left in a taxi parked close to the pub.

Jones, who admitted drinking one pint of beer and a small bottle of cider before the crash, was at the wheel of a 2.6 litre Rover car which he had bought the previous day.

The court heard the vehicle was involved in a series of thefts from cars in the hours before the fatal crash and Jones, who was driving unsupervised on a provisional licence and without insurance, panicked as police gave chase.

Prosecutor Mark Rees told the hearing witnesses were forced to jump out of the way as the car approached them, travelling at speeds estimated at 80 to 90 miles per hour while cornering with two wheels off the ground and tyres screeching.

As the Rover careered towards the crash site its windscreen steamed up and Jones was unable to operate the ventilation system to clear the window.

Mr Rees said: "The Rover was veering from left to right, it mounted the footpath and passed between the taxi and the pub on the path.

"The Rover hit Leanne Moore, throwing her over the bonnet and some way down the road."

After the impact, the car smashed into a parked car and a wall, Jones left the vehicle and ran away, he was arrested two days later in Stourbridge.

Leanne, aged 25, died hours after the collision in Russells Hall hospital, her daughter Sophie was just ten months old at the time.

Samantha Powis, defending, said: "The defendant knows there are no words of comfort he can offer the family of this young woman.

"Jones had a lengthy criminal career for one so young but is trying to put that behind him, these offences were committed while he was trying to make progress."

"He has faced up to this as bravely as he can and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity."

The Judge told Jones he will serve half the eight year term and 116 days spent on remand would be taken into account, he also banned Jones from driving for ten years.

9:00am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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