A man who lost control of a Mercedes and ploughed into a care worker has been jailed. Erjon Aliaj, 35, of no fixed address, was behind the wheel of the car when it hit Baljit Kaur, 62, in Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, on August 28 last year.

Baljit was being dropped off at home by a colleague and was stepping out of the car onto the pavement when Aliaj hit. He lost control of the white Mercedes as it neared a bend in the road at speed, according to West Midlands Police. The car mounted the kerb then smashed into four cars, including the one Baljit was getting out of.

Paramedics battled to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Aliaj was arrested at the scene and charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday (March 2).

Baljit's grieving son, who wasn't named by the police, said in a statement shared by the force: "She worked hard her entire life. Even on the day she was killed, she was coming home from work."

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"For the last 22 years, she worked as a carer - looking after everyone, her clients, her friends and especially me. She was my strength, my rock, my whole world.

"Her death was a huge loss to me, our family and the whole community."

Det Sgt Julie Lyman from West Midlands Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Aliaj was driving dangerously and at speed.

"He lost control of the vehicle and killed an innocent woman as a result of his reckless actions."