A drunk driver who hurtled through a red light at almost 60mph before killing a university student as she crossed the road - and then set his car ablaze in a bid to cover his tracks - has been jailed for 12 years.
Liam Bowes, 37, knocked back up to ten pints of lager and shots at a 50th birthday party before getting behind the wheel of a friend's Volkswagen Golf and ploughing into Abigail Eggleston, 22.
Harrowing footage played in court captured Bowes careering through a red light and striking Abigail, a second year law student, as she used a pedestrian crossing in Durham, Co Durham.
Bowes, a motor mechanic, was speeding at 56mph on the 40mph A167 in the suburb of Neville's Cross when he ploughed into Abigail, leaving her dying in the road before fleeing the scene, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Bowes, who admitted causing death by death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, later set fire to the vehicle in a bid to destroy evidence.
Passing sentence, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Francis Laird, KC, said Bowes' dangerous driving was 'prolonged, persistent and deliberate' and said Abigail 'did not stand a chance'.
Her family branded him as a selfish 'coward' for failing to stop at the scene.
Judge Laird told Bowes: 'Your deliberate and wilful decision to drive whilst highly intoxicated, and in doing so ignore the most basic rules of road safety, resulted in the loss of a precious life.
'The loss to the Eggleston family is devastating for them and will impact the rest of their natural lives.'
Bowes was filmed drinking between eight and ten pints, as well as shots, at at a working men's club in Langley Park, near Durham, on October 25 and seen unsteady on his feet before leaving the venue at around 1.30am the following morning.
He took a car belonging to a friend which he was not insured to drive, said Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting.
Mr Wood said: 'Prior to reaching Neville's Cross, vehicle telematics which have been analysed confirm that Bowes was speeding 10 to 20mph above the speed restriction.
'From the defendant leaving the club and travelling to his home address he completed a 14 mile journey in 16 minutes and 39 seconds, which would have ordinarily have taken 25 minutes, dependent on traffic.'
Witnesses said Bowes, a motor mechanic from Kelloe, County Durham, made 'no effort to break' as Abigail crossed the road, 'simply didn't stop and left the scene'.
Abigail was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary after the crash but died a short time later. Her multiple injuries were so catastrophic that her family, who live in Northamptonshire, did not arrive in time to say goodbye.
Her mother, Mandy Eggleston, told the court that she would never forgive 'cowardly' Bowes and said: 'My world has completely shattered'.
She added in a victim impact statement read out at court: 'Losing her has resulted in my world being completely and utterly crushed and destroyed.
'Life can never be the same for me without her.'
She accused Bowes of 'selfishness' and showing 'a total disregard for human life', adding: 'I feel that irrespective of whether you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs you are undeniably of an age to know wright or wrong.
'At no time have you ever regained a conscience or shown any hint of remorse. Instead you embarked on a mission to cover and hide your tracks. You deemed your own welfare more important than your friends and took no qualms about burning his car.
'If that is how you treat you friends then Abigail had no chance.'
Abigail's sister Jessica Eggleston told Bowes: 'I often find myself wondering, after you ploughed into my sister and left her in the road, did you consider even anonymously calling the emergency services to ensure that she got help?
'Were you wondering about who the person was that you had hit? How old is she? What does she do in life? Who are her friends and family and how are they going to cope when they find out?
'Did you ask yourself these questions? Or was my sister simply an obstacle in your path?
'Based on your following actions, I think I have my answer.'
The court was told Bowes tried to cover his tracks by abandoning the car and setting light to the interior to destroy evidence, with the 'unwitting assistance' of his mother.
He then sent text messages to a friend to suggest he had been at home at the time at the time of the hit-and-run.
When arrested and interviewed by police, he denied being at the wheel before later admitting his involvement when confronted with CCTV images.
Judge Laird said: 'But you still lied - claiming that you were driving at 44 miles per hour when the collision occurred.
'You said you panicked and drove away from the scene.'
Bowes had four previous convictions for 12 offences, including driving without due care and attention and failing to stop following an accident.
Christopher Morrison, defending, read a letter from Bowes in which he said he was 'truly sorry' for the 'pain, grief, and devastation that I have caused'.
He said: 'Following my decision to step into the car that night, I had no idea that my actions would end in such tragic circumstances. Any words I write can't undo the pain and devastation I've caused the family because of what I have done.
'But I need to acknowledge the gravity of my actions and the irreversible consequences they have had. As a 37-year-old man, I take full responsibility for the accident and there are no excuses for my actions.'
He added: 'I know that forgiveness may never be possible but I hope that my actions moving forward can demonstrate my commitment to making amends in whatever way I can.'
Bowes also admitted driving without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 years.
Judge Laird said: 'Abi, as she was affectionately called was aged 22 at the time of her death and was studying for a degree in law at Durham University.
'Those who knew her have described an intelligent, hard-working and sensitive young woman.
'She was an all-rounder with talents as wide ranging as martial arts; having obtained a black belt; singing and cooking. She was destined to do well in her studies and had a promising and fulfilling career in law ahead of her.
'In short, she was full of life. She was the daughter every parent would want and the sister every sibling would be fortunate to have.'
He added: 'No sentence that this court could possibly impose could measure the value of her life, nor ease the pain and sorrow felt by them.'