An illegal immigrant has been jailed for nine years after he killed a couple when he ploughed into the back of their car at a speed approaching 100mph while drunk.
Eduard Mereohra smashed into the back of David and Dorothy Metcalf's Fiat on New Year's Day, forcing it 10ft into the air and causing it to flip end over end before coming to rest.
Mr Metcalf, 68, was killed instantly while his 65-year-old wife was found hanging out of the rear passenger window and later died.
Mereohra had been out drinking on New Year's Eve and the following morning was collecting parcels in his car with a passenger.
Leeds Crown Court was told how several witnesses had earlier seen him driving at speed, tailgating motorists and forcing them to brake sharply when he overtook them.
David and Dorothy Metcalf, who were killed
Mereohra, from Moldova, who had entered the country illegally on two occasions, was driving along the Stanningley bypass near Leeds in his Volvo C70 when he crashed into the back of the couple's car.
The court was told he was twice the drink-drive limit having attended a New Year's Eve party, later telling police he had drunk beer, whisky and champagne.
Mereohra, 26, ran away from the scene of the accident after initially approaching the wrecked vehicle, and lied in police interviews about who was behind the wheel, the court was told.
Judge Geoffrey Marson said Mereohra had "callously" tried to blame Mr Metcalf for causing the accident and had done "almost everything you could to protect yourself".
He described the victims as "decent and hard-working", who had "everything in their retirement to look forward to".
He added: "You had been drinking heavily throughout the night and early in the morning that dreadful day.
"You were driving your motor car and were collecting parcels at 11 in the morning.
"You have been described as being 'very drunk'. There then followed a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving at a time when you were about twice the legal limit for driving.
"I emphasise deliberate because the evidence shows that on the dual carriageway you were driving close behind a number of other vehicles, overtaking them at speed and cutting sharply in front of them causing them to brake.
"This was otherwise a clear dual carriageway and the only conclusion I can draw is that in your drunken state you had made a deliberate decision to drive aggressively in relation to other motor vehicles at that time. Your motor car was a weapon achieving a speed of 90mph-100mph in a 60mph limit."
Mereohra, 26, from Autumn Grove, Burley, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
The judge went on to praise the victim's family for the dignity they had shown.
He added: "I recognise the anxiety and utter devastation they have suffered. They are to be commended for the way in which they conducted themselves throughout the proceedings."
The court was told Mereohra had entered the country illegally in October 2008 and sought asylum in September 2009.
Officials then discovered he had previously sought asylum in Austria in 2004 and was deported back to that country in December 2009.
However, the court was told he returned to the UK and "must have returned very soon after deportation".
The court was told he was deported under his own name but was found to have a national insurance number and work permit.
The judge intervened proceedings to say "that is a cause for concern" and suggested the relevant authorities make inquiries.
Tony Kelbrick, prosecuting, said the crash was witnessed by scooter rider Daniel Kershaw who heard a loud bang.
"He saw the Fiat 10ft up in the air, flipping end over end with things dropping from it."
He described how the Volvo appeared to "pass underneath the Fiat".
The court was told he then rushed to the scene to try to help.
"He could see a lady hanging out of the rear passenger window, that was Mrs Metcalf.
"He went to her and he supported her head and body and remained doing that for 10 minutes until the ambulance arrived and relieved him."
Defending Kate Blackwell, QC, said her client was deeply remorseful and "wished he could turn back the clock".
She added: "He set out to execute appalling and prolonged course of driving knowing he had very little sleep and was over the alcohol limit. There is nothing I can say that can mitigate that driving."
She confirmed her client will be deported once he has served his sentence.
Following today's sentence, the family issued a statement in which they questioned the defendant's remorse and why he had been allowed to stay in the country.
The statement, read by the couple son's, Clive, said: "No sentence will ever be long enough for the person who changed our lives forever on New Year's Day 2012, when he took away our parents and our children's grandparents, through his thoughtless, dangerous and illegal actions.
"We have been told that he is sorry, but we simply cannot accept that as a genuine apology.
"He chose to come to this country illegally; he chose to drink all night and get behind the wheel of his car; he chose to drive erratically and at extremely high speed, weaving in and out of traffic; he chose to flee the scene of this horrific incident and denied being the driver and refused to be tested for alcohol.
"Given those circumstance, we think the only thing he is sorry about is that he was caught."
Mr Metcalf went on to describe the couple as "hardworking, honest taxpayers who had planned responsibly for their retirement".
He said the family still wanted to know how the defendant was able to be in the UK, despite being previously deported.
He added: "We feel that our beloved mum and dad would still be alive today if the system had not failed by allowing him to be at liberty in the UK."