A HALESOWEN driver who mowed down and killed a man after missing him the first time with his car is to be jailed for life.

Nidal Alboraiki ploughed his Vauxhall Corsa into Benjamin Morse catapulting him onto the windscreen and into the road.

The 36-year-old labourer who had been enjoying a night out with friends suffered serious head injuries and he died a short time later despite a determined battle by surgeons to keep him alive.

The death of Mr Morse - a keen Arsenal supporter - left his family devastated and shocked the community with hundreds of people turning up for his funeral at St. John's Church.

Mrs Gay Jones, his mother, told Wolverhampton Crown Court he was a "cheeky fun loving son" and his death had changed her life forever.

"Ben was and always had been a loving, caring son," she said. "He would light up a room when he entered it and he was always the one who would put a smile on everyone's face.

"I cannot believe that through some senseless, evil act I have lost my child. Even now I expect Ben to walk back in through the front door. I expect my phone to ring and Ben to be on the other end for a chat."

Alboraiki, aged 21 of Foxhunt Road had denied murdering Mr Morse who lived in Yew Tree Road, Halesowen but he was found guilty by the jury at the end of his trial.

The panel retired to consider the evidence for just under six hours before returning their unanimous guilty verdict.

They also convicted Alboraiki of perverting the course of justice by seeking to dispose of his Corsa after hitting Mr Morse on May 1st this year.

Mrs Jones said Benjamin was her rock and he kept her going "through the dark times" when her marriage collapsed.

She went on, "The thought of Ben not being present at family events when we are used to him being the life and soul of the party breaks my heart and causes physical pain.

"Nothing will ever fill the hole in my heart. I find it hard to accept I won't ever hold my son or speak to him again."

Ruth Morse, Benjamin's 32 year old sister, sobbed as she said, "His death was not an accident or illness.

“Someone who did not know my brother chose that night to take his life by using his car to mow him down in cold blood."

She said she continued to have flashbacks and nightmares after dashing to the hospital to see Benjamin adding, "Since Ben's death I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks.

"I have tried to focus on the happier times but the last images I have of Ben always return. Ben was loved by all.

"He had a wide circle of friends and the whole community suffered from his loss. Ben was my big brother. He made me laugh and he made me cry.

"The hurt and loss I feel will never go away. I am fearful that over the coming months there is a long hard road to travel. I feel I am constantly in turmoil and it is never going to end."

Mr Richard Atkins QC had told the jury that to drive once at someone was bad enough but to do it a second time did not just demonstrate dangerous driving but "murderous intent."

The court heard from one witness he saw a group of four lads including Mr Morse when a car suddenly accelerated towards them at speed.

Another witness said she heard a threat to kill being uttered moments before the Vauxhall struck Mr Morse and tossed him into the air.

In evidence Alboraiki who showed no reaction as the jury returned their guilty verdict on the murder charge maintained the group had surrounded his car and he reacted because he feared for his safety.

He said he was convinced the men were looking for trouble adding, "I did not drive at any of those people I wasn't driving fast. I was not driving in a dangerous manner and I never intended to hit anyone."

Judge James Burbidge QC will sentence Alboraiki to life imprisonment tomorrow (Tuesday) when he will rule just how many years he will have to spend behind bars.

Mr Bernard Tetlow QC defending told the court the crime clearly happened on the spur of the moment.

Something had been said, he added, but it would never be known what it was.

Alboraiki had claimed a member of the group had hurled racial abuse at him and his passengers but, said Mr Tetlow, he had never intended to kill Mr Morse.

Ahmed Alboraiki the 19 year old brother of Nidal, had denied perverting the course of justice by taking a mobile telephone so it could not be examined by police.

But he too was found guilty by a unanimous verdict by the jury.

Ahmed Alboraiki further pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and he was sent to a young offenders’ institution for 14 months.