A MECHANIC who killed a pensioner while test driving a powerful car he'd just fixed has been jailed.

Uninsured Russell Vines, 20, was taking the Honda "around the block" after working on its radiator.

But he was driving "too fast" when he flew round a left hand bend in the Prelude and crashed into a Hyundai driven by Winstone Cotterell, 74.

Winstone, who was in the car with wife Janet, 75, became trapped in his vehicle and later died in hospital.

Janet suffered serious injuries including fractures to her ribs, sternum and leg.

Vines, who was 19 at the time, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs and causing death while uninsured in February last year.

Vines was banned from driving for four years and nine months and told to take an extended driving test.

Judge William Hart said: "February 11, 2018, was a great tragedy occurred in the life of the Cotterell family, and a great tragedy for you."

Robin Shellard, prosecuting, told the court road conditions were good at the time of the collision on the B3134 near Burrington Combe, Somerset.

He said his loss of control was down to it being his first time in the Honda and driving too fast.

Mr Shellard told the court: "He was driving too fast, too inexperienced in a too powerful car."

When Vines had a blood test six hours later he was found to have 1.1 part cannabis per litre of blood.

The court heard though it was not possible to back calculate his cannabis level he would have been significantly impaired to drive safely.

Janet said she lost the ability to go out, took pain relief every day and struggled to sleep every night in an impact statement read to the court.

She said: "It changed my life forever.

"I have physical as well as mental scars to remind me."

The couple's daughter Julie, 51, told the court her dad "Wince", a former lorry driver, was "loving and annoying in equal measure."

She talked of her parents' 52-year marriage and their regular trips to the Isle of Wight and Devon.

She said: "He enjoyed driving more than anything.

"He was a careful driver who washed his immaculate car every day, as well as neighbours' cars."

Charles Row, defending Vines, said: "He is genuinely sorry.

"He is full of remorse for what he has caused to this family.

"He accepts he was entirely at fault.

"A poor over-reaction caused the crash and the death of Mr Cotterell.

"There is no doubt remorse is genuine."

Mr Row said his client was more interested in fixing cars than driving them and on the day in question was taking the Honda "around the block" after working on its radiator.

Vines accepted smoking cannabis the night before, but said he felt perfectly well when he drove.

ENDS