A motorist who was driving his new sports car "like a rocket" when he crashed into a tree, killing his girlfriend, has been jailed for two years.

Ben Crossley (25), was taking hairstylist Becki Holwell, 20, to their home in Mountsorrel when he lost control approaching a roundabout too fast at a notorious accident black spot.

It was only the third time he had driven the high-powered Honda Integra, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Becki's heartbroken mother, Julie Holwell, 45, said after the case: "It's been hell living without my daughter.

"Something desperately needs to be done about young men driving fast cars.

"I don't want another family to go through what we've been through.

"People shouldn't be allowed to drive high-powered cars until they're 30 and the law needs changing.

"It was heartbreaking re-living in court the night she died.

"I can't forgive him (Crossley) for taking my daughter away.

"I'm happy he's serving a sentence. We've got a life sentence without Becki."

Crossley, of Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, admitted causing death by careless driving, when his car veered off the A6 near One Ash Roundabout, between Loughborough and Quorn, at 8.20pm on August 28 last year.

Passing sentence, Judge Sylvia De Bertodano banned Crossley from driving for three years.

She said: "You accelerated at such speed witnesses describe it 'like a car on a race track' and 'going like a rocket'.

"I don't accept it was a momentary lapse. You were a young man with a new and powerful car, showing off and driving at speed that was well beyond what was safe."

John Lloyd-Jones, prosecuting, said Crossley picked Becki up from her workplace, Jacki Walker Hair and Beauty, in Biggin Street, Loughborough, and drove from the town centre in a normal manner. On reaching a 50mph limit, he sped off.

A car heading in the same direction on the A6 dual carriageway at 60 to 70 mph, was overtaken by Crossley. The occupants described the Honda as "flying past like a race car".

Mr Lloyd-Jones said the car "moved very quickly and left the road". It broke one tree and crashed into another.

Becki died at the scene. Crossley was seriously injured with rib, leg and hip fractures, and was in intensive care for 11 days.

He told a passer-by at the scene that he loved Becki, saying: "Don't let her die."

Errol Ballentyne, defending, said Crossley had driven for three-and-a-half years with a clean record.

Crossley had been dating Becki since she was 16.

Mr Ballentyne said: "It was a momentary lack of judgement by a young man unused to that car. He's got to live with this for the rest of his life and he's been living with it, and punishing himself, every single waking day."

Mrs Holwell has a 1,500-signature petition supporting her campaign for a speed camera at the crash site.

"I know Becki would be proud of the work I'm doing in her honour," she said.