A cannabis-taking motorist who killed his mother after smashing into a parked lorry had been driving “like a bat out of hell”, a court has heard.

Omar Khaldoun was trapped in his black VW Polo for half an hour next to his mother Safir Amari's body following the horror accident at Samphire Hoe near Dover last August.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

But now a judge has heard a plea from his family not to send the 25-year-old with a First Class business degree to prison – despite the fact he was driving above the legal drug limit.

Judge Simon James decided to suspend a two year sentence for two years after saying "it is impossible not to be moved by the letters from the family.

“Whatever I do or say will do nothing to address the fact you must live for the rest of your life with the burden of the knowledge you are responsible for the death of your own mother.

“And although it is clear that many of your family appear to have absolved you of responsibility of her tragic death, I am afraid I can’t be so generous.”

Khaldoun was also on bail at the time of the tragic crash for being behind the wheel while under the influence of cannabis and had received four police cautions for possessing the drug.

He had been driving his mother and his five-year-old brother to France along the A20 near Dover as lorries were parked on the near side waiting to cross the channel as part of Dover TAP restrictions.

Judge James said it must have been “plain as a pike staff” to motorists that traffic restrictions and a 40 mph limit was in operation.

But prosecutor David Malone told Canterbury Crown Court that one motorist described Khaldoun’s driving “as like a bat out of hell” and the crash as “the worst he had ever seen”.

Driver Stephen Turner-Dauncer remembered a colleague telling him earlier: “Wasn’t that the car that shot past us?”

An army mechanic also told his woman passenger as they were being overtaken by the VW: “Look at this idiot!”

“Whatever I do or say will do nothing to address the fact you must live for the rest of your life with the burden of the knowledge you are responsible for the death of your own mother" - Judge Simon James

Eye-witness Ian Holiday who was towing a caravan en route to France said he saw signs and warnings about traffic restrictions.

He said as the road dropped down towards the cliffs he saw clearly a row of lorries park in the nearside lane.

He later told police that the lorries “were lit up like Christmas trees” with flashing lights.

As Khaldoun tried to pass vehicles on the nearside, the VW struck the side of the van.

Mr Holiday said as he stopped near a Daf truck he heard “an almighty bang” behind him and turned to his frightened wife as his vehicle was showered with broken glass.

The prosecutor praised Mr Holliday, paramedics and police officers who had “courageously” gone to the aid of the occupants of the VW.

Khaldoun’s youngest brother was carried away from the crash uninjured, the prosecutor added.

Duncan Jones, defending, said single mum of five Ms Amari, a beauty therapist, had come to Britain in 2003 and had raised her "very close" family in Wales and then London.

He pleaded with the judge to “respect the wishes of the family” - who have forgiven him - and not jail him immediately.

He added: “His mother would not have wanted a prison sentence for her son because she would have wanted them to move on as a family.

“His brothers would be caused more suffering if he was jailed because they have forgiven him.”

Khaldoun was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work for the community, and remain at his London home between 9pm and 6am for the next four months. He was also banned from driving for five years.

After sentencing, Detective Constable Aaron Hammond said: "Khaldoun told us he had shared one joint of herbal cannabis at midnight the night before the collision.

"He said he didn’t feel under any effect of the cannabis when he was driving. But the drug drive limits are there for a reason.

"Drugs can seriously impair a driver’s perception and reaction time. It also shows the dangers of undertaking.

"This was a tragic incident that has had a devastating impact on a family. Khaldoun will have to live with the consequences of his actions that evening for the rest of his life.

"We hope that the sentence sends a strong message to drivers that drug driving can have horrific consequences and will not be tolerated."