Fatal Wolverhampton crash driver has jail term cut

Banned motorist Jatinder Paul chased Wolverhampton garage boss Rajesh Chalotra to his death at the wheel of an Audi R8.

The pair had enjoyed watching an England football match with friends at the Rose & Crown pub in Penn before tragedy struck. Both had driven at speeds estimated to have reached almost 100mph in a short dash to Chapel Ash after the pair had spoken to each other while waiting for traffic lights to change.

In February Paul, who had been banned from the roads for drink-driving, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Birmingham Crown Court and was jailed for nine years.

However, that has now been cut to eight years by the Court of Appeal. The London-based court heard how Paul, aged 26 and from Great Barr, had been racing with Mr Chalotra after meeting on June 24 last year.

Paul drove up behind Mr Chalotra, flashing his lights before speeding off in front of him down Finchfield Road West.

Mr Chalotra, of Regent Road, Penn, then lost control of his car and hit a wall and lamppost.

Paul returned to the scene shortly afterwards but drove off and did not hand himself in until days later.

Lawyers argued his nine-year sentence was too long because the crown court judge had taken too high a starting point before making a reduction to reward his guilty plea.

The judge had incorrectly sentenced him as though his case was in the worst category of death by dangerous driving cases, the judges were urged. Lord Justice Treacy said that although the driving had at times involved greatly excessive speed, it was not continuous and was interspersed with periods of more conservative driving.

He added: "We consider that, balancing the relevant factors, a sentence approaching nine years would have been appropriate prior to credit for the guilty plea.

"Giving credit for that, we reach a term of eight years."

Mr Chalotra's devastated family described him as 'warm-hearted, jovial, and generous' after his death last year.