A “boy racer” killed a pensioner as he showed off to a pal riding down a street at more than twice the speed limit, having taken cocaine and cannabis.

The 600cc Honda ridden by Peter Manzi smashed into 90-year-old Thomas Barron as he crossed the road, knocking him into the air as motorists, pedestrians watched on in horror.

Mr Barron, from Margate, died from his appalling injuries at the scene in Northdown Road in Cliftonville before paramedics could take him to hospital.

Now a judge has heard how speeding motorcyclist Peter Manzi, 24, was a banned driver who had no insurance and had taken cocaine and cannabis prior to the crash in August last year.

Manzi, of St Luke’s Avenue, Ramsgate has been jailed for five years and 10 months and banned from driving for seven years.

The father of twins, who appeared by prison video link, sobbed throughout the hearing at Canterbury Crown Court, often wiping his tears on a t-shirt.

Prosecutor Peter Alcock told how the accident happened shortly at 2.30pm as Barron’s powerful bike with a pillion passenger was seen in Foreland Avenue.

He was spotted “leapfrogging” cars before turning into Northdown Road, causing one other driver to sound his horn as a warning.

Other motorists estimated his speed prior to the accident at between 60mph and 100mph.

Driver Martin Fossey, whose vehicle was overtaken by the motorcyclist near the Hungry Horse in Foreland Avenue swerving to miss bollards and narrowly avoiding a van turning right.

The first aider later told police he thought “that’s stupid that’s going to cause an accident”.

He said he thought the motorcyclist was “showing off” and his driving “just crazy” and the passenger was holding onto Manzi “tightly”.

Off-duty police officer James Deacon was driving his van when he heard the noise of the motorcycle engine and began indicating right and sounding his vehicle horn...and he noted down the registration number.

The prosecutor told how other motorists Kevin and Tina Jones were startled by Manzi which they labelled as “crazy”.

Mr Jones told his wife “he’s going to have an accident” as he saw a man on a central island about to cross the road.

Mrs Jones said: “Oh my god what’s going to happen?”

Mr Alcock said that had Manzi been driving at the correct 30mph speed Mr Barron could have crossed the road safely.

Manzi, who admitted causing death by driving dangerously, was convicted of dangerous driving in 2016 and banned.

The victim’s son, Gerard Barron, told the judge his father was on his way to buy treats for his grandchildren when he was killed.

“He was kind, gentle, compassionate, patient and understanding - who encouraged people to be the best they could.”

He said the family was upset that someone “could ride their bike so recklessly.”

The court heard that Manzi had got in with a group of “boy racers” but now plans to leave the area when he finishes his sentence.