A driver has been jailed for fleeing a crash in which a popular biker died.
Ayslum seeker Jean Renee Mukadi, 32, of Hartham Road, Haringey, ploughed into Simon Lawrence, 55, known as Bootneck, in Harvil Road, Harefield, on June 4.
Mukadi, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, claimed to have been unaware he hit Mr Lawrence and failed to stop because he feared it would impact on an impending appeal against a failed asylum application.
Mr Lawrence, of High Street, Yiewsley, was killed instantly, with severe neck and head injuries.
During the hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court last Wednesday, prosecutor, Andrew Caird, said: "Mr Mukadi did not just flee the scene but did so without stopping, without giving any regard for Mr Lawrence.
"As an uninsured driver, as an unlicensed driver, Mr Mukadi had no business being on the road."
Mr Lawrence's sister, Alison Roberts, and his mother, Shirley Maddams, have told the Gazette of the agony they have suffered since Mr Lawrence's death. Ms Maddams said:
"I've lost my son and I'm still pining for him. It's been terrible, we don't sleep.
"It is us that is serving the sentence. We try to be positive. We talk to him every day.
"I can hear his voice, him laughing." This week, Mr Lawrence's only nephew, Bradley, 13, is performing in a play wearing the biking enthusiast's lucky waistcoat and leather trousers.
Ms Roberts said: "It's keeping his memory alive and that helps to keeps us going.
"The sentence is more than we hoped for but all these crocodile tears into his (Mukadi's) tissue - what about us?"
Defence barrister Yinka Oladimeji said father-of-one Mukadi had suffered from depression, stress and sleeplessness since discovering Mr Lawrence was killed in the crash.
He pleaded guilty to failing to stop and report an accident and driving without insurance or a licence.
He was jailed for four months and disqualified from driving for a year.
Mr Lawrence's family has thanked the members of West Middlesex Motorcycle Club for their support, as well as Michaela Hutchinson and Helen Pratt for providing first aid to Mr Lawrence at the scene of the accident.
