Nottingham: Driver jailed for killing student in police chase
A man has been jailed for nine years for killing a mature student with a car while being pursued by police.
Oshada Jayasundera, 31, of Nottingham Trent University, was hit on the A60 Huntingdon Street in Nottingham city centre in the early hours of 13 December and died at the scene.
Joshua Gregory, 27, was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
The victim's brother travelled from Sri Lanka to speak at the hearing.
Recorder Paul Mann KC said Gregory had treated the city centre "like a race track", describing his dangerous driving as "prolonged, persistent and deliberate".
He added Mr Jayasundera's family would have to bear his loss "every day for the rest of their lives".
The court heard Mr Jayasundera had been returning home from a birthday party with friends when he was struck by the Ford Focus, which Gregory had taken from his then place of work without permission from his employer and without insurance.During the pursuit he reached speeds in excess of 80mph in a 30mph zone and the force of the collision was such that Mr Jayasundera's body was propelled 46m (150ft).
Mr Mann said: "Mercifully, his death was instantaneous".
Shortly after hitting Mr Jayasundera, Gregory collided with a central reservation and abandoned the car he had been driving.
He was pursued on foot and refused to take an alcohol breath test when collared by officers.
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