An illegal immigrant who escaped before he could be deported went on to cause the death of a father after falling asleep at the wheel.

Indian-born Iqbal Singh, 39, absconded after being refused permanent leave to remain in the UK following his arrival in 2000.

He was driving a van without a licence or insurance when he crashed into father-of-four Malcolm Anderson’s car on the M6 last December.

Singh admitted causing Mr Anderson’s death by careless driving and faced a maximum five-year jail term when he appeared at Warwick Crown Court for sentencing earlier this week.

But Judge Michael Cullum reduced the sentence to credit Singh for his early guilty plea over the crash, which happened when the Andersons were returning home to Stechford, Birmingham, in convoy after a family wedding.

Warwick Crown Court heard Singh swerved to avoid a car carrying their three daughters, Sarah, 23, Emma, 20 and Michelle, 18, but hit Mr Anderson’s Ford Escort.

The car careered into a concrete post and overturned. Mr Anderson died of a heart attack at the scene.

Talbir Singh, defending, said Singh had expressed his remorse in letters to the judge and Mr Anderson’s family.

Singh was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge on Monday.

He also admitted causing death while unlicensed and uninsured.

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