Speeding driver jailed after hit-and-run crash killed Carl Moore

Stefan Gvozdenovic was already on bail for dangerous driving following a police chase which ended with him losing control of a BMW and crashing into a tree in Fisher Road, Mossley, just a month earlier, a judge heard.

Undaunted the 33-year-old was hurtling down Walsall Wood High Street in a friend's Range Rover at an estimated 81mph in a 30 zone just 80 metres before mowing down Carl Moore, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The car was still doing around 65mph when it hit the 28-year-old outside the Boatman's Rest pub where both men had spent time that night, revealed Mr Peter Grice, prosecuting.

There was no evidence they knew each other.

Gvozdenovic left the bar 25 minutes before tragedy struck and was captured on CCTV driving round the area at excessive speed before careering past the pub as the victim walked away from the premises to see a distressed friend at 12.30am on November 24.

Mr Moore lived nearby and, it is thought, understandably misjudged the alarmingly high speed at which the Range Rover was approaching.

He had run across the carriageway for barely a second and was in the middle of the street when the car ploughed into him without stopping, the court heard.

The victim was taken to hospital where he was certified dead from traumatic head injuries.

Gvozdenovic continued driving but contacted the owner of the Range Rover soon afterwards to admit: 'I think I have killed someone.'

Mr Grice concluded: "He had been involved in a prolonged, persistent period of deliberate bad driving."

The defendant turned himself in at Bloxwich police station around seven hours later.

Tests showed the amount of cocaine in his body was still significantly over the drug drive limit.

Mr Oliver Woolhouse, defending, conceded: "He had not learnt from the earlier incident of dangerous driving and only has himself to blame.

"He found it difficult to come to terms with what he had done but accepts responsibility for all of it."

Gvozdenovic, from Lane Avenue, Walsall, who had nine penalty points on his driving licence and previous convictions involving 18 separate offences, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop, dangerous driving a month earlier and having no insurance.

Judge Michael Challinor branded him as a danger to the public meaning he must serve at least two thirds of the jail term behind bars and will be monitored for four years longer than normal when set free with a ten year driving ban on release.

The judge told the defendant: "You took no evasive action to avoid the pedestrian and continued along the road in full knowledge of having hit someone while on bail for another episode of dangerous driving. This was reckless, risk taking behaviour.

"Long after your release from this sentence the family of the man you killed will still be suffering from their loss."

Carl’s stepfather Neil Hackett, said after the case: "Our lives have been ripped apart and will never be the same again.

"All we can hope for now is that his death is not totally in vain and drivers are made aware of the life sentence they can inflict on others by their dangerous actions.

"We urge all motorists to take care on the roads at all times as we would not wish the pain we are going through on anyone else."

Mr Hackett continued: "Trying to come to terms with what happened is a real battle. Sometimes Carl’s death still does not seem real, but then something such as Christmas or his funeral happens, and we are jolted back to reality.

"He was such a kind and generous person who would do anything for his friends and family. He had his whole future ahead of him, but this was snatched away in a split second because of the actions of the driver.

"We would like to thank the emergency services for everything they did to try and save Carl and all those who have sent us messages of support. To know that so many people thought so highly of Carl provides us with comfort."

Rebecca Hearsey, expert road accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the family, added: “All of Carl’s family have been left absolutely devastated by his death in such sudden and needless circumstances.

"Hopefully this sentence will act as a deterrent and make drivers think about the consequences of their actions, so the number of people killed or badly injured on our roads reduces."