A NEW grandfather was killed when a speeding car rammed his vehicle into a brick bus shelter which collapsed on top of him, a court has heard.

Tony Stokoe died from multiple fractures at the scene of the horror crash in Shotton Colliery, near Peterlee, County Durham, last November.

Ryan Gilling, of Manor House Estate, in nearby Hutton Henry, was today, Friday, jailed for six years and nine months at Teesside Crown Court.

Just two weeks before the tragedy, the 26-year-old had completed a one-year driving ban imposed for "racing on a highway" in Scotland.

He left the scene of the accident after passers-by helped him from the wreckage of his BMW, but he returned and fled again, the court heard.

Gilling was picked up at a nearby petrol station and taken to hospital, but he was arrested there when staff alerted police to his arrival.

He told officers he had been driving slowly, but said: "Can you tell his family I'm sorry and I wish it had been me who'd been killed."

Another driver, whose car was also shunted by the BMW and written off, said it looked like he was "either racing or playing Russian roulette".

The Northern Echo:

Tony Stokoe pictured with his wife Marie

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, rejected and said it was "laughable" a claim that Gilling did not realise the severity of the accident.

In a statement, Mr Stokoe's widow, Marie said: "I have lost my best friend, my soul mate, the only man I wanted to spend my life with.

"I spend my time counting down the days until we can be together again . . . Tony's death has been incomprehensible for the whole family.

"A trivial trip to buy work boots has become quite simply the most devastating trip our family has been on. We will be victims forever."

Father-of-three Mr Stokoe spent just six weeks with his first grandchild, Gracie-May, "before he was stolen from us", his wife said.

Gilling, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, was doing 70mph in the 40mph zone, and was on the wrong side of the B1280.

The judge told him: You must have known perfectly well you had been travelling at speed and been in an accident, and any other explanation will not be accepted by the court."

Glenn Gatland, mitigating, said although Gilling knew the road well, he had not driven for a year and forgot where the 40mph zone started.

He read a letter from the defendant, in which he said: "I would just like to put into my own words how sorry I am for what my actions caused.

"It is all down to me why it has happened. It sickens me about what I have done. I understand now how speed can change so many lives in the link of an eye."

Closed circuit television footage of the crash - described as "distressing and graphic" - was shown to the court by prosecutor David Crook.

He said a Home Office pathologist found that Mr Stokoe had all of his limbs broken, and suffered a fractured skull and spine.

Sergeant Jonathan Morgan, the investigating officer, said after the case: "No sentence could ever compensate for the devastation which Gilling caused Tony's family, but I hope the length of time he will serve behind bars will serve as a clear message to others about how they drive.

"Our enquiries into this incident continue and two people remain on bail on suspicion of assisting an offender. Any new information will be gratefully received."

Gilling was also banned from the roads for six years and four months after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.