A driver who killed an Irish pensioner who once played clarinet for JFK was jailed for 14 years today

Anop Singh, 31, had been kicked out of a club with pals for spraying champagne just hours before he struck the 72-year-old with his car.

Singh hit John ‘Frank’ Heneghan with his VW Golf in the early hours of August 12, 2017 before driving over his body to escape.

He was convicted on Wednesday of causing death by dangerous driving and driving dangerously. At an earlier trial he was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Forensic investigators have estimated that Singh must have been driving between 47 and 76mph along High Road, Tottenham, a 30mph road.

Enfield Independent: Anop Singh. Credit: SWNSAnop Singh. Credit: SWNS

Mr Heneghan had been out drinking Guinness with his friends and had left them on a bus at Seven Sisters station when he was sent 60m through the air by the car’s impact.

Singh then fled the scene, driving back to his home on Jessam Avenue with a smashed windscreen and a black eye.

He called the police saying he had been in an accident but he did not know how the Golf had ended up outside his house.

Enfield Independent: John ‘Frank’ Heneghan. Credit: SWNSJohn ‘Frank’ Heneghan. Credit: SWNS

Louise Oakley, prosecuting, said: “By his own admission, that night he had consumed a quantity of alcohol, three or four shots, a pint of Guinness and a pint of lager.

“He told the custody sergeant that he had smoked a couple of spliffs.

“Because he did not call police immediately, police did not attend the address until eight in the morning and there was no sample of breath or blood.”

The court heard that Singh attempted to hide the blood and shards of glass on his clothes by washing and drying them.

Singh was eventually convicted after four trials.

Enfield Independent: Credit: SWNSCredit: SWNS

He has 12 convictions for 15 offences, including for drinking driving after he had killed Mr Heneghan.

Seven jurors from the trial returned to see Singh receive 14 years in prison as well as a 14-year driving ban.

Mr Heneghan, from Kilmaine, County Mayo, played clarinet in an Irish Army band as a teenager and in 1963 he performed for JFK at Shannon Airport and shook the president’s hand.