A Mercedes driver who killed a flight attendant in a horror smash after driving nearly 120mph on the M2 has been locked up for 12 years.

Heidie Lee Locke, from Broadstairs, was on her way to Heathrow Airport when Sensenal Amalgo’s Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG collided with her Nissan Qashqai between junction 6 for Faversham and junction 5 for Sittingbourne.

The fatal crash was caught on Amalgo’s dashcam and referred to during a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court back in February.

The 43-year-old care worker had previously denied the offence at proceedings held at the same court in November and was due to stand trial at the end of this year.

But in February, he changed his plea and returned to court on Monday (May 12) for sentencing.

On November 27, 2022, Miss Locke was heading to Heathrow Airport where she worked for United Airlines.

The crash happened at around 6am and led to the London-bound carriageway being closed for 10 hours as police carried out an investigation.

Miss Locke, 58, who hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, died at the scene and Amaglo, a care worker of Finn VC Estate in Bodmin, Cornwall, was arrested.

At his court hearing last year, it was said that as well as being over the drink-drive limit at the time, he had also been speeding.

Amaglo denied a second charge of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink or drugs but in February, prosecutor Ben Irwin told Judge Catherine Moore that that offence would be "incorporated" into the more serious charge now admitted and that the sentence ultimately imposed could "reflect the level of intoxication".

It is believed his blood alcohol level was just under twice the legal limit when tested.

The offence had been described by Mr Irwin as one “of the most serious kind” and Amalgo was told he faced up to 18 years in prison.

Amaglo, who works with adults on the autistic spectrum, is originally from Ghana and required an interpreter. He was given leave to remain in the UK in 2018.

Judge Catherine Moore sentenced him to 12 years and two months in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 years and two months and must take a required extended re-test.

At the time of Miss Locke's death, a colleague paid tribute to her "lovely and caring" friend, who was a member of the United Airlines crew based out of Heathrow.

"She was a beautiful person whose life was cut way too short," said Teresa Delafons.

"She was always up for a laugh and kept us all entertained on our flights across to the USA.

"She was a lovely, caring person. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially all of us at United as well as Pan Am where she started her career."

According to an online obituary, Miss Locke was also a passionate photographer who documented her extensive travels, having worked for United Airlines for more than 30 years.

She had owned her home in Broadstairs since 2007.

A statement issued on behalf of United Airlines expressed the company’s sadness as well as its deepest condolences to her family.