Ajay Singh was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he hit Vicky Myres with his car
An Indian-origin man in the UK has been sentenced to eight years in jail and banned from driving for 10 years for killing a woman cyclist in a hit-and-run case while being high on alcohol and drugs.
Ajay Singh, 26, hit Vicky Myres from behind at high speed with his car as she was out cycling in Timperley, Greater Manchester, in August and then sped away.
A court in Manchester was informed by the police this week that he was tracked down and arrested hours later.
"Your dangerous and unlawful driving undertaken as it was with a complete disregard for the safety of others has taken from this world a truly special person," Judge John Potter said while sentencing Singh.
"When she [Myres] died she was just 24 years old. She was a good, bright, intelligent and energetic person who had the world at her feet. She had travelled extensively. She had a passion for cycling," he added.
Singh had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop and had been warned by the judge at a previous hearing that he faced a "significant custodial sentence".
Besides being jailed for eight years, Singh, an insurance worker who is married with a three-year-old child, has also been banned from driving for 10 years and must take an extended driving retest after the ban.
On the day of the hit and run, Singh's vehicle was going at about 51-62 mph when it hit Vicky from behind and she broke her back, dying instantly.
The court was told that Singh's car was damaged in the collision and the registration plate was found at the scene, which helped police apprehend him quickly.
Police later arrived and entered Singh's flat where he was initially unresponsive and seemed to be "out of it on drugs", the court was told.
After being arrested he was breathalysed and found to be just under the drink drive limit but was over the drug drive limit for cannabis and cocaine.
He had admitted to taking the drugs spice and ketamine, the court was told.
In a victim impact statement, Vicky's father said, "My future doesn't seem that exciting. Obviously, life goes on but I will never get to see my baby again".
The florist was out cycling with her boyfriend's mother on the day of the crash on August 27.
In a statement read at the court, the victim's boyfriend, said, "Due to the thoughtless, selfish and cowardly actions of the driver my beautiful, innocent girlfriend was taken away from me. My life now feels meaningless".