A MOTORIST who killed a woman pedestrian while speeding at more than 80mph has been jailed for for three years.

David Stewart wept as a judge at Maidstone Crown Court told him it was not the purpose of the court to exact revenge for what he did.

"Neither is the sentence to place a value on human life," said Judge Andrew Patience, QC. "It is not possible. A life, particularly this lady, is invaluable. It cannot in any way be defined or quantified."

But he added that the speed the 23-year-old was travelling at when he hurtled into Joyce Denning was a serious aggravating feature.

The court heard that 80-year-old Mrs Denning was crossing the A26 at Teston, near Maidstone, when Stewart approached at twice the speed limit of 40mph on February 4 this year.

Jo Cope, prosecuting, said Stewart had been driving through Maidstone in his Honda Civic. A Volkswagen Golf pulled out in front of him and he made a rude gesture.

Stewart drove behind the Golf before overtaking it as well as a van and then sped away.

Mrs Denning was pulling a shopping trolley as she crossed the road. Mrs Cope said another driver later told police that it was safe for her to cross as no vehicles were in sight.

He and other witnesses described Stewart "flashing past". One said Stewart was bearing down on the old lady, said the prosecutor.

The Honda braked and mounted the pavement but could not avoid hitting Mrs Denning, who was thrown into the air.

Stewart continued driving and the car disappeared out of view. But shortly afterwards he returned. He collapsed on the pavement sobbing.

Stewart told police he had been unable to slow his car down at first. He admitted that when he first saw the victim he would have been travelling at "a rate of knots" at 80-85mph.

The father-of-two, of Bramley Crescent, Bearsted, Maidstone, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Mrs Cope said Stewart had, in March 2001, been put on probation for 18 months and banned from driving for the same period for failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Stewart was banned from driving for five years and will then have to take an extended test.