The heartbroken family of a woman killed in a crash say life is not the same without her.

Susan Hayward suffered fatal injuries when soldier Ian Harvey smashed into the car she was travelling in on December 5, 2015.

Last week the 24-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison. He has also been discharged from the Army.

He admitted causing the death of Mrs Hayward, 56, by careless driving but was cleared of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Harvey confessed at the scene of the crash in Lower Road, Higham, that it was his fault.

The resident, of Burdett Avenue, Gravesend, lost control of his Ford Fiesta as he sped over a hill.

Travelling in the opposite direction was Mrs Hayward, her husband Tony and his brother Mark and his wife Christine in a Ford Focus. The two vehicles collided.

Speaking after sentencing, Mr Hayward, 58, of King George Road, Chatham, revealed he is still not back to work as a builder after suffering serious injuries.

He said: “Family was everything to Susan. We didn’t have children, but she lived for her nieces, nephews and was there for everyone.

“She would regularly be late home in the evenings because she was still running them around.”

The couple met when Susan was just 16 and still at school and he was 17. She was brought up in Grange Hill, Chatham, and went to Luton School.

The oldest of four children and her and her sisters, Anne and Christine and brother John were very close.

Mr Hayward said: “Susan was a housewife and kept a nice home and was a carer for her mum Betty for many years until she died. She was a kind woman and was there for everyone.”

"The car was flying like the cars used to in The Dukes Of Hazzard...then there was a bang and it was all over" - Anthony Hayward

Her heartbroken father, John Arnold, said: “My grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, were her life she would spend £80 a week on fuel running them around.

"She was also there for me and would iron my shirts for me. We come from the gypsy community and so were are a very close-knit family.

“Susan knew how to be a lady, but would always have her say.”

Mrs Hayward’s family were at the court hearing.

Mr Hayward said: “We never got the impression he was remorseful about Susan dying. His girlfriend cried as he was jailed. We have tears every day.

“Apparently now after 18 months, he’s written a letter to say sorry for what he did. It is too little, too late.

“We would like to thank the Judge, Adele Williams, the prosecution barrister and especially the police for their investigation.”

Mr and Mrs Hayward were going to a friend’s 50th birthday party when the crash happened.

Mr Hayward doesn’t remember much about the accident.

He said: “I am still having nightmares about it and treatment for my injuries. My foot was near my head after the crash and I have had to undergo extensive surgery on my pelvis.

"The doctors say I will not be able to work as a builder any more and can only do light duties.

"The crash changed our lives completely. All I can remember about the crash was the lights coming over hill.

"The car was flying like the cars used to fly in the TV programme The Dukes Of Hazzard. Then there was a bang and it was all over.”

After the crash Mrs Hayward was put in an ambulance but pronounced dead by paramedics.

She somehow had managed to call her dad John to tell him she’d been involved in a crash and her legs were bad.

Before she died she also told someone who had stopped to help she’d had a lovely life.

Mr Hayward said: “A policeman came and told me, 'sorry but your wife has died'. I never got to say goodbye to her.”