A speeding BMW driver was doing almost double the limit when his car hit a pedestrian as he tried to cross the Shipley Airedale Road in Bradford city centre.

Seconds before the fatal collision in November 2017, dashcam footage from a lorry captured an Audi S3, which has never been traced, and the BMW 330d being driven by Jose Blanco-Medina both running a red light.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron told Bradford Crown Court today that the BMW subsequently overtook the Audi, which was doing about 60mph on the 40mph stretch of road, and at the time it struck 37-year-old Mark Walker it was travelling at between 75 and 80mph.

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Mr Walker, who had been crossing the Barkerend Road junction with a friend that night, was thrown in the air and suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision.

Mr Hendron said his friend described having to run to the central reservation when he realised that the defendant’s car was travelling much faster than expected.

The court heard that Blanco-Medina, of Stapleton House, Bolton Woods, remained at the scene after the collision and called the emergency services.

Roadside tests for drink and drugs both proved negative and Mr Hendron said if the defendant had been complying with the speed limit there would have been twice as much time for Mr Walker to cross the road or for Blanco-Medina to react or brake.

When he was initially questioned about the collision the 27-year-old claimed that two men had run out in front of him and said he had been doing 40mph at the time.

Mr Hendron submitted that it was a level two case involving grossly excessive speed and racing or competitive driving which would carry a starting point of five years in jail after a trial according to the sentencing guidelines.

Blanco-Medina, who had been caught speeding just a few weeks before the fatal collision, indicated at a hearing before the magistrates that he would be pleading guilty and earlier this month he admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at the crown court.

Barrister Kieran Galvin, for Blanco-Medina, said he was truly remorseful and if there was anything he could do to turn the clock back he would.

Jailing Blanco-Medina for three years, the Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said he had read a very moving statement from Mr Walker’s mother.

He said Mr Walker had been “a caring, likeable and loving son” and the harm caused by the defendant had been incalculable.

“Your car was well-suited to that speed, but none of the circumstances were,” the judge told Blanco-Medina.

“You were not in drink. There is no question of drugs and you were not using a mobile phone. You were therefore in a sober way driving at a quite unbelievable speed.”

The judge emphasised that the guidelines indicated a five-year starting point, but added:”It will not satisfy, you know, the victim’s family.

“You know they would expect and wish for perhaps very little mercy to be shown, but this isn’t about mercy. This is about the law.”

He explained that the sentence was reduced to 54 months because of the defendant’s remorse, but he then had to given a full one-third off for his guilty plea at the first opportunity.

“If I do not do it the sentence would not be sustainable and I would be overturned,” said the judge.

Blanco-Medina was also banned from driving again for a total of 54 months and he must take an extended re-test at the end of that disqualification period.