A driver who caused the death of a mother-of-two after a crash on the A20 near Dover has been jailed for 18 months.

German Lailoma Harari, 41, was visiting friends in the UK with husband Abdul and their two teenage children when the accident happened in August last year.

Stephen Cripps, 48, from Southampton, had admitted causing her death by dangerous driving and was disqualified for three years.

Rhiannon Sadler, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how Cripps was driving a van heading to Dover for a meeting in the morning.

It overtook several vehicles at 70mph, but - as it returned to the inside lane - the van clipped Mr Harari's vehicle which then spun before striking a metal barrier.

Mrs Harari was trapped inside the crushed VW vehicle and after being cut out was airlifted to hospital, but died from her injuries five days later.

Richard Smith, defending, said Cripps had not been asleep at the wheel but had made "a momentary lapse" of judgement.

He said Cripps was genuinely remorseful and had offered to pay for the family to return to the UK to attend the hearing – but the Harari family could not make the trip because the children were taking exams.

Judge Adele Williams said although there was no evidence he had fallen asleep at the wheel, she believed the misjudgment had been the result of fatigue – caused by his shift work.

She added: "But I accept you are genuinely remorseful and your actions has also had been devastating for you and your family."