Drink-driver who killed ‘much-loved’ grandfather in 84mph crash jailed

The 79-year-old was killed instantly on August 16 last year, reports BirminghamLive.

Nijjar, of Sharrat Field, Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

The court heard that Mr Draper crossed Thornhill Road near Sutton Coldfield Golf Club just before 6pm on Saturday, August 16, 2025. He waited at the pelican crossing before he crossed the road towards Sutton Park on what was described as a “sunny day”.

Nijjar, who was 21 at the time, was driving a “high-powered” Mercedes-Benz E60 AMG with a 6.2 litre petrol engine, which belonged to his mum.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace said there was “nothing mechanically wrong” with the vehicle but “skid marks” on the road indicated that its anti-lock braking system was not working at the time.

However, Mr Wallace said this “would not have made any difference” and would have had little to no bearing on Nijjar’s speed.

Mr Wallace told the court the crash would not have happened if Nijjar had stuck to the speed limit, as he would have had “more than enough braking distance”.

Nijjar initially gave West Midlands Police an “untruthful” account that he had “only been driving at 30mph”, then gave no comment in police interviews.

He finally admitted to his guilt in July this year.

Nijjar had no previous convictions and held a clean driving licence prior to the collision.

In an emotional testimony given to the court, Mr Draper’s son Adam recalled his shock and disbelief upon receiving the call to say his father had died.

Adam said he was regularly travelling from his home hundreds of miles away to help his mother in the wake of his father’s sudden death.

The court heard how Mrs Draper would hope to hear her husband “will just walk in through the door” and was hospitalised twice in the months following the crash.

He said: “Mum had just lost her husband of 46 years. They had been together for over 50 years. Imagine sleeping on your own that night for the first time in at least a decade.”

Balraj Bhatia KC, defending, told the court Nijjar comes from a “strong, loving and supportive” family.

He said the University of Birmingham graduate was a “young man that they had good reason to be proud of”, describing Nijjar as “decent, caring and considerate”.

The court heard how the breakdown of his three-year relationship and the loss of his business led Nijjar to “drink heavily” in the months before the incident.

Mr Bhatia said Nijjar “foolishly” decided to take his mum’s car out and drink alcohol before driving on the day of the incident.

In his own statement read out to the court, Nijjar said: “I will never forgive myself for this. I am unable to put into words how sorry I am. Since the incident, I always think about how much of a loss I have caused to the family and loved ones.”

Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC said: “This was a truly appalling case. You caused the death of a much-loved, respectable 79-year-old man.

“It matters not if the lights [on Thornhill Road] had changed [to red] or not because you were clearly aware of the area, familiar with it.

“But also, it was obvious that it was a pedestrian crossing and foreseeable that there may be pedestrians there.

As well as his jail sentence, Nijjar was also banned from driving for more than 10 years.