Wilfred Museka jailed over M62 wrong-way death crash
A drink-driver who killed a woman when he drove the wrong way along a motorway has been jailed for eight years.
Rebecca Caine, 20, from Leeds, died in the crash between junctions 21 and 22 of the M62 near Littleborough, Greater Manchester, on 16 September.
The aspiring model died from multiple injuries in the head-on collision.
Wilfred Museka, 31, from Clayton, had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He also admitted fraud by false representation, driving without insurance and driving other than in accordance with a driving licence.
The court heard that Museka, a Zimbabwean national who gained political asylum after arriving in the UK in 2000, had been to a family party in Manchester.
He drank so much alcohol that he could not recall how or why he had later travelled to the border of West Yorkshire, where the crash took place.
Police said Museka, who was driving a Renault Megane, joined the M62 by driving the wrong way along the exit slip road.
Tina Landale, prosecuting, said a motorist whose vehicle had broken down shone his torch at Museka and waved his arms to get his attention but to no avail.
Another driver swerved to avoid the oncoming Megane.
Museka continued to drive the wrong way along the eastbound carriageway for about half a mile.
Miss Caine had visited Manchester to see a friend perform at a nightclub and was a back-seat passenger in a Chevrolet Matiz travelling in the opposite direction to Museka.
The court heard the 20-year-old was not wearing a seatbelt as she was sitting next to a drum. She was thrown from the vehicle in the crash.
Three other people were hurt in the collision, which happened in the early hours of the morning.
Museka was arrested and found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.
He had never held a full driving licence and had 11 previous convictions for driving matters, including driving with excess alcohol.
Judge Adrian Smith said: "This can properly be described as a flagrant disregard of the basic rules of motoring caused by a self-inflicted inability to exercise any judgment by the consumption of large amounts of alcohol."
Following the sentencing, Sgt Lee Westhead of Greater Manchester Police praised the Caine family for their "dignity and patience".
He said: "Their daughter was taken from them in a senseless and totally avoidable act by a selfish individual with no respect for other road users.
"Rebecca was a wonderful individual who was loved by her family and had so much to offer the world."