An inexperienced driver who hit and killed a Worcester grandfather in a horrifying high speed accident has been jailed for three years.

Portuguese driver Helder Piña lost control of his newly-bought Peugeot 206 as he accelerated to overtake cyclists after leaving work in the early hours of August 1 last year.

He lost control of the car and hurtled across Cotswold Way, Blackpole, towards a group of two men, a woman and an eight-year-old boy who had been night fishing in the canal and were waiting for a taxi, Worcester Crown Court heard yesterday.

One of the group, Thomas Towers, heroically pulled Linda Finch and her young son out of the path of the car as it hit speeds over 60mph but 48-year-old Christopher Willmott was left standing in its path, Iain Willis, prosecuting, told the court.

The car hit the kerb and lost a wheel before it crashed into Mr Willmott and "catapulted" him 57 metres along the road. Members of Mr Willmott's family gasped in horror as the court was shown CCTV footage of the collision and the car hurtling along the road in a shower of sparks from the missing wheel. It sped across the junction with Blackpole Road and came to a halt after hitting a lamppost almost 300 metres away from the accident.

Police also filmed their own reconstruction but experienced officers were unable to recreate the speed Piña had been driving at because it was too dangerous even under controlled conditions. His speed was estimate at between 63 and 67 mph in a 30 mph limit.

Piña had been working at Worcester Bosch on a 3.30pm to 1am shift and was giving workmate Elio Soares a lift home, Mr Willis said.

Mr Soares, who had minor injuries, told police he shouted at Piña to brake as he over-reacted to passing the cyclists but he just held on to the wheel as the car zig-zagged across the road.

Mr Willis said Piña had passed his driving test in Portugal in 2012, shortly before he moved permanently to this country, and had not driven on the left hand side of the road until he bought the Peugeot just three weeks before the crash. He had been stopped by police the first night he had driven it because he was swerving and said he was having difficulty with the controls and gear stick being on a different side.

His inexperience behind the wheel could have contributed to the crash, Mr Willis said.

Pina pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Nicholas Berry, defending, said Pina was extremely sorry for the accident. He stayed at the scene and helped to call and ambulance and after his arrest, he told police he wished he had been the one who had died.

"There is nothing I can sensibly say to express the sorrow he feels for the tragic events," Mr Berry said.

Pina arrived from Portugal in 2007 and settled permanently in 2012, working as a barman and waiter before taking a course in leisure and tourism with the intention of becoming a tour guide in London. He met his wife and they moved to Worcester where he got a job with Bosch.

They have a young child.

Judge Michael Cullum said Mr Willmott was clearly a hard-working devoted family man who will be sorely missed. He said the accident was entirely Pina's fault. He was not used to driving and there had been no need for him to drive at a "ridiculous" speed for up to 300 metres before the collision.

The judge praised Mr Towers who had moved the others in a split second.

"In a flash, he did what he could. It could have been four people killed," he said. "As it was, the three others saw their friend hit, including a young boy."

Pina was jailed for three years and banned from driving for four years. He will also have to take an extended re-test.

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After the hearing the family of Christopher Willmott said the length of sentence for Helder Pina was "disgusting."
His former wife Karen Willmott said after the case she had been unable to watch the footage of the crash that killed her "best friend" because she would never get over the loss.
She said the sentence was too lenient and would not help the family.
"I thought it was disgusting," she said. "To drive like that and to take someone's life and then to be allowed out in 18 months - it's not enough."
Mr Willmott's 46-year-old brother Dave, from Warndon Villages, said the two had been so close they were like twins.
"This is not going to make it any easier," he said. "I personally don't think we have had justice today."
He thanked the police for their attention and help during the course of the case.
The court heard Mr Willmott was Worcester born and bred. He had been to Cranham Drive Primary School and Perdiswell secondary and was a skilled kitchen fitter who could turn his hand to anything. HIs hobbies including fishing and his son Andrew said in a victim personal statement read to the court that he had last spoken to his father on the night he went out. He was asked if he wanted to go but he declined because he was too tired and that was the last time he spoke to his father.
Mr Willmott separated from his wife in 2002 but was constantly in touch with her and his three children and four grandchildren.
"He was always smiling," his son's statement said. "He was happy all the time."