A MOTORIST fled the scene of a death crash on the M5 near Droitwich by pulling a hood over his head and jogging past the body of the victim.

The crash caused chaos on Worcestershire's roads, closing the motorway for seven hours. Mark Kirk was a member of a gang that toured Worcestershire and neighbouring areas looking for high-value cars to steal, Worcester Crown Court heard yesterday.

He was at the wheel of a stolen £42,000 Range Rover when it struck 49-year-old businessman Alan Peacock, who had stopped following a minor shunt on Thursday, November 16, last year, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

Kirk fled the scene in a Volvo 440 driven by accomplices on November 16 last year, but was arrested 15 days later. Kirk, aged 26, was jailed for five-and-a-half years to follow on from 371 days he has to serve for an unexpired prison sentence. He was banned from driving for 10 years.

He admitted aggravated vehicle taking, careless driving, burglary and driving whilst disqualified.

Judge Richard Rundell said Kirk had made no attempt to help his victim who was lying a few yards away.

"No sentence can adequately value the life of the man who died," the judge added.

Mr Butterworth said Kirk, who had 61 previous convictions, mainly for motoring offences, was on licence from jail after being sentenced to 45 months in July 2005 for conspiracy to burgle and stealing high-value cars.

The Range Rover Sport was stolen by the gang from a house near Tewkesbury after the keys were taken during a break-in while the family were asleep. They were on the way back to Birmingham when they were help up on the M5.

Kirk, of Cadbury Drive, Castle Vale, Birmingham, was driving the Range Rover at an estimated 85mph before Mr Peacock, of Colesbourne Road, Benhall, Cheltenham, stepped out of his BMW and was killed instantly.

The Volvo carrying Kirk from the scene was later found burned out, but his DNA was discovered on the Range Rover's steering wheel and on a torch in the vehicle.

Mr Butterworth said Kirk had lied about his involvement but faced with DNA evidence later admitted it.

Kirk had written a letter to the Peacock family appealing for forgiveness, said Adam Western, defending.

He accepted driving too fast and being careless by trying to avoid queues of stationary cars before hitting Mr Peacock.

While on remand in jail, he had become a "listener" for the Samaritans and an enhanced prisoner studying carpentry.

Speaking after the case Det Insp Adrian Todd welcomed the conviction and "significant" sentence.