Jailed: Ex-Telford policeman gets over six years for killing Market Drayton mother and daughter in head-on crash

Vinod Dahiya is today starting a six year eight month prison sentence after admitting causing the deaths of Diane and Kira McGrail on the A5 last year.

The ex-Telford Pc ignored a 'keep left' sign on the 60mph single carriageway road, pulled out into incoming traffic and ploughed into the Seat Ibiza in which 54-year-old Mrs McGrail and her 14-year-old daughter Kira were passengers.

The pair, from Oakley near Market Drayton, both died at the scene. Mrs McGrail's 17-year-old son Jack, who was driving, was badly injured.

Dahiya - in a three-litre 14-plate BMW 530 that he had taken delivery of just three days earlier - careered into the Seat between Gailey and Weston-under-Lizard on July 6 last year.

He was suspended from West Mercia Police at the time of the crash and subsequently sacked for gross misconduct after lying during an unrelated case.

The 46-year-old had been driving dangerously for up to 12 miles while unsuccessfully attempting to overtake the line of traffic in front of him 15 times before tragedy struck, Stafford Crown Court heard.

The initial impact tore off a front wheel of the Seat, sending it careering into an Audi A8 which hit it on the passenger side where Mrs McGrail was sitting in the front seat and her daughter in the rear.

The crash flipped the Seat on to its side and roof where it came to rest.

Jack McGrail - a provisional licence holder - was blameless in the accident, the court heard.

Mr Antonie Muller, prosecuting, stressed: "He had nowhere to go and no time to react."

The lawyer continued: "For the previous 12 miles, the driver of the BMW had been dangerously and repeatedly pulling out in attempts to overtake when there was no reasonable opportunity to do so.

"On this occasion his view was obscured by the blind crest of the incline."

Dominic Galley, who was travelling behind Dahiya, later told police: "The BMW was totally to blame. His driving was appalling."

He continued: "After the accident I asked him 'what the hell do you think you were doing?' he replied: 'I don't know.'"

Mr Harpreet Sandhu, defending, argued: "There were intermittent examples of bad driving during the previous 12 miles of his journey, but this was not continuous bad driving."

The barrister added: "He has suffered the greatest fall from grace."

Dahiya - a police officer for 10 years before his dismissal and from Wallett Drive, Telford - pleaded guilty to two cases of causing death by dangerous driving and one of causing serious injury.

Judge Michael Chambers QC jailed the defendant and told him: "This was a dangerous and deliberate movement that led to catastrophic consequences.

"This was not a spur of the moment matter, there had been numerous previous attempts to overtake."