A man who was drunk and on cocaine when he crashed and killed a mother-of-two in Purley has been jailed for five years and seven months.

Thomas Joseph Lee, 26 (3.11.87), of Money Road, Caterham, was driving at 50mph in a 30mph zone on 16 February 2013 when he lost control of his Citroen Saxo in Godstone Road, near the junction with Little Roke Road.

The car spun, mounted the pavement and struck pedestrian Kremena Mersinkova, 40, who died at the scene. The car finally came to a stop in the rear garden of a house.

A post-mortem examination held on Tuesday, 19 February at Croydon Mortuary gave cause of death as multiple injuries.

Her husband, Plamen Mersinkov was also injured, suffering a dislocated shoulder and cuts and bruises. He was taken to St George's Hospital and was later discharged.

In court he said: "None of these injuries caused me as much pain as I felt when I was searching for my wife who had been thrown into the next garden. At the time I prayed to God to save my wife but I knew she was dead. Kremena was the flame of the family. Nothing is the same as before."

The three occupants of the car - two men and a woman - were all taken to St George's Hospital for treatment. All were later discharged and the driver, Lee, was arrested.

He was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

A urine test showed that he was over the drink drive limit and had been taking cocaine and mephedrone.

Lee pleaded guilty and during his sentencing yesterday, 27 February, at Croydon Crown Court he was also disqualified from driving for five years with an extended retest at the end of this period.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mick Woollard of the Metropolitan Police's Road Death Investigation Unit, said: "This is a tragic loss of a wife and mother of two daughters.

"Lee took drink and drugs before driving a motor vehicle. I'm sure he regrets his actions and is remorseful but there is a clear message here that driving under the influence can kill people."

Kremena and Plamen Mersinkov