A DRUG dealer who left a grandmother dying in the road after knocking her down in a speeding car has today been jailed for nine years.

Salim Chand, who was already banned from driving, hit churchgoer Freda Holt outside her home in Revidge, Blackburn.

The judge said Chand’s driving was so bad it attracted the attention of onlookers.

He had ‘ploughed into Mrs Holt’ and ‘she didn’t stand a chance’.

Police believe Chand, 27, was driving along the narrow residential road which carries a 30mph limit at speeds of up to 70mph.

Mrs Holt’s husband Ray, 72, was seconds away from the scene and saw his wife's body in the road.

The retired yoga teacher was a beloved grandmother and a dedicated churchgoer.

Preston Crown Court was told Chand had hired the £70,000 Mercedes C63 Am as an ‘item of boast’ for a wedding.

Witness Janet Davies could not see the driver of the silver Mercedes as it sped up Revidge Road at 10.30am on November 8 because the windows were steamed up.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell said the ‘horrible, terrible’ collision damaged the front windscreen and other witnesses reported seeing Chand leaning out the driver’s side window in order to see where he was going after the incident due to the cracked windscreen.

There were no brake marks found on the road. He clipped a parked car further up the 30mph road.

Witnesses later came forward who had seen Chand driving at estimated speeds of 80mph to 100mph on Preston New Road.

Chand parked one mile away on Carham Road, Pleckgate, and called Preston-based hire company Prestige Vehicles to report a ‘minor bump’.

He asked a friend, 28-year-old Inis Panwala from Blackburn to help recover the car and take it to Perfect Finish in Farnworth, Bolton.

Chand then went by taxi to meet Panwala at the recovery firm, but didn’t reveal the seriousness of the collision.

Panwala, who was also banned from the road for drink driving, was given 26 weeks custody, suspended for two years, for perverting the course of justice.

The court was told that Chand, who bowed his head throughout proceedings, had been caught dealing £500 of cannabis from a car in Glenfield Close, Blackburn, in May and was on bail for that offence when he killed Mrs Holt.

He also had a string of driving convictions and breaches of court orders.

For Chand, Alan Wolstenholme said his remorse was ‘genuine’ and not ‘self-pity’ adding his character was ‘not all dark’.

But Judge Anthoy Russell QC rejected references in Chand’s favour which claimed he was ‘well-respected, peace-loving, conscientious and courteous’.

The judge said: “Your conduct in this case shows otherwise.

“Following on from what was particularly bad driving at high speed which attracted the attention of onlookers.

"It was so bad, you ploughed into Freda Holt. She didn’t have a chance.”

Chand, of Iddesleigh Road, Preston, but originally from Blackburn, was jailed for causing death by dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and driving with no licence and insurance.

He was also banned from the road for 10 years.

Detective Inspector Brian King said: "I hope that the conclusion of these proceedings will go some way to allowing Freda’s family to move forward with their lives.

“Chand’s actions that day led to the death of a woman who had so much to live for.

"His actions have left a family without a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

“This case highlights the stupidity of reckless speeding, which played a huge part in this tragic incident.

"The terrible consequences of this collision should serve as a strong warning to people not to do this.

“Lancashire Constabulary will not tolerate this type of behaviour on the county’s roads and we are determined to bring those people who choose to drive in such an irresponsible manner to justice.”