The family of a mother killed by a hit-and-run driver who had been travelling at more than 100mph have said they are in 'unimaginable pain' after he was jailed for 10 years.
Ryan Scott, 28, had been travelling at 112mph just five seconds before he collided with Claire Laybourne, 39, who was returning home with her mother from a Christmas trip to the theatre.
Scott's anti-lock braking system in his Skoda Fabia took over just before he collided with Laybourne's Volkswagen T-Roc but he was still travelling at almost 90mph at the time of the crash.
Both had been travelling on the northbound carriageway of the A19 in North Tyneside when they collided on December 5 last year.
Scott, of Blyth, Northumberland, fled the scene on foot before emergency services attended to Miss Laybourne.
She was taken to hospital but died of her injuries the following day.
Her mother, Heather Appleby, suffered broken ribs, bleeding on the brain and severe whiplash.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was raining heavily and there were no street lights on the road when Miss Laybourne carefully navigated around a car which had broken down in the left-hand lane.
But as she did so, Scott was determined to overtake, with a witness describing him travelling at an 'unbelievable speed.'
The next thing he heard was a bang, 'like a bomb going off.'
Claire Laybourne, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, died after Ryan Scott attempted to overtake at almost 90mph on the A19 in North Tyneside
Scott, of Blyth, Northumberland, has been jailed for 10 years and banned from driving for more than 13 years
When police tracked Scott, a saliva DNA sample taken from the Skoda's air bag matched perfectly.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
However, he denied charges in relation to causing death while over the limit for drugs.
Prosecutors were unable to proceed with charges of causing death while over the limit for cocaine, as it could not be proved whether he took the drugs before or after the collision due to the delay of his arrest after he fled the scene.
He was jailed for ten years and banned from driving for 13 years and eight months - to come into force on his release from prison.
Sentencing, Judge Tim Gittins said his decision to flee was 'cowardly' and Miss Laybourne's death was 'unnecessary and wholly avoidable.'
In a statement, Miss Laybourne's partner of 14 years, Ben Dewar, said: 'Claire lives on in her children. I see her kindness, her gentleness, and her beautiful soul reflected in them both every day.
'While that brings comfort, it also deepens the pain, because she should be here to see it herself, to continue to nurture her little boy and guide her daughter throughout her life.
'Claire and I have been together for 14 years. We had a life mapped out together - not just big plans, but ordinary ones: raising our son, growing old together, sharing everyday moments.
'We also have big plans. We were planning to get married this September.'
He added: 'There is not a minute that passes where I do not feel her absence in every room.'
'Waking up every morning without her restarts the heartbreak. Returning to an empty house and the lonely nights where we would normally be discussing boring everyday things, break me all over again.'
Miss Laybourne, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, was mother to seven-year-old George and 22-year-old Faye, who lives in New Zealand.
Her mother, who was travelling with her at the time of the collision, said: 'Claire was my only daughter, and she was my best friend.'
'I feel guilty because I survived when she had so much more living to do.'
'Losing my daughter in such a senseless way is something I can't come to terms with. I am sure everyone thinks that their daughter is wonderful, but my girl truly was.'
'The loss of Claire is something I don't think I'll ever get over, but the loss to her partner, daughter and her little boy is truly horrendous.'
'Claire was beautiful, funny, smart and loving. She was the kindest person I've ever known, and it was a privilege to be her mother.'