PICTURED: The two men jailed after Stourbridge 'race' led to death of young mum Nadine Foster
These are the faces of two men starting lengthy jail terms today after killing a young mother.
Dylan Stringer, left, and Joseph Chance have been jailed for a combined 14 years after the death of 19-year-old Nadine Foster in Stourbridge.
The pair, who had been swigging alcohol, reached speeds of up to 78mph as they 'raced' along Hagley Road in Oldswinford, before Stringer's car crashed into a bus shelter.
Stringer had lost control of his car when he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle as he tried to overtake a car. Chance had completed the same manoeuvre just moments before. Witnesses described seeing the cars 'racing' immediately before the crash.
Nadine, whose son was just five months old at the time, was left with catastrophic injuries and died four days after last year's tragedy. The passenger side of Stringer's focus, where his girlfriend Nadine was sitting, took the brunt of the crash.
Chance initially answered no comment when questioned by police and in a second interview sat in complete silence.
Stringer denied the men were racing and claimed to have been driving at a speed of 50 to 55 mph before the crash.
He blamed Nadine for distracting him by pinching his leg and causing the collision. He later refused to be interviewed.
Yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court Judge Michael Challinor told the men they were equally culpable for the crash, with Chance setting the pace for a race.
Chance, 25, who had a provisional licence but no insurance and MOT, was found guilty of death by dangerous driving and jailed for eight years - as well as being banned from driving for 14 years.
Stringer, 24, who had no licence, no insurance and no MOT, admitted death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to six years in prison - as well as being banned from driving for 13 years.
DC Jamie Simon, from West Midlands Police's Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Chance and Stringer chose to race their vehicles at more than double the speed limit, having both consumed alcohol, at the time it was dark and it had been raining.
“They did this with a blatant disregard for the laws of the road, and neither had insurance or a valid driving licence.
“Their reckless and stupid actions cost a young mother her life.
“Her son, who was five months old at the time, will know never get to know his mother.
“Driving in this manner is completely unacceptable and both Stringer and Chance will now have time to reflect on their actions, having been sentenced to a considerable amount of time in prison.”
