'Show off' Wolverhampton death driver is jailed
A banned driver who killed a friend while 'showing off' at the wheel of an £80,000 sports car capable of travelling at up to 188mph was starting a nine-year jail sentence today.
Jatinder Paul had already beaten 36-year-old garage boss Rajesh Chalotra in a suspected race on Wolverhampton's Ring Road when tragedy struck.
Mr Chalotra lost control of his Audi TT and was killed as Paul overtook him in a four-litre Audi R8 in Finchfield Road West.
The 26-year-old, stood head bowed in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court as Judge Stuart Rafferty QC told him: "The vehicle you were driving was effectively a road-going racing car capable of enormous speed.
"Behind the wheel you became an unmitigated show-off. I have no doubt that you and he had agreed, if not necessarily to race, then to speed along part of your journey.
"But this was not ordinary racing because at the time of his death Mr Chalotra had long since ceased to race – but you had not ceased to show off."
Paul, formerly of Warstones Road, Warstones, and now of Stanton Road, Great Barr, consistently denied being to blame for the crash, shortly before midnight on June 24 last year.
He changed his plea two days into his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, finally admitting causing the death of Mr Chalotra by dangerous driving.
He was remanded until yesterday for pre-sentence reports and has received death threats, the court heard.
He had also written an apology to the family but, speaking after Paul was jailed and banned from driving for 10 years.
Mr Chalotra's brother Jag said: "There is no way either I or any of my family will read a word of what he has now written. It is far too little too late."
Mr Chalotra's family said they had nothing to do with any threats.
