A 21-year-old who caused the death of a churchgoer while driving his father's sports car, is beginning a three-year jail term.

Jonathan Malone, of Sleepers Hill, Winchester, was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of causing the death by dangerous driving of Romsey spinster, Marion MacDonald.

Malone, the son of Winchester Football Club director, David Malone, smashed head-on into Miss MacDonald's Peugeot 205 on the B3090 Winchester to Romsey Road, near Pitt, on December 22nd, 2001.

He had been driving his father's 190mph TVR Tuscan to show off to friends while his parents were away for the weekend.

He took girlfriend, Gemma Vaughan, for a drive but lost control of the powerful car as he overtook a line of traffic at around 60mph.

Miss MacDonald (62), of Hunters Crescent, Romsey, had been on her way back home after lay flowers at her mother's grave at Hursley.

She suffered multiple injuries and died on her way to hospital.

Jailing Malone, judge Samuel Wiggs, told him: "Miss MacDonald had her life brought to a sudden and tragic end by your act.

"You took your father's almost new TVR car from a garage to demonstrate it to your friends.

"The car reached 60mph in four seconds and it has a top speed of 190mph.

"There was no purpose to the drive other than to demonstrate the car.

"You had not gone far when you decided to overtake cars in front of you. In my view, it was an extraordinary place to overtake three cars.

"There was no purpose in overtaking other than showing off your driving and the power of the car."

Malone, a storeman for an agricultural company, was also disqualified from driving for five years.

The court heard that Malone had invited a group of friends to stay the night at his family's house at Sleepers Hill while his parents were away.

Peter Henry, prosecuting, said that, the following morning, he had driven his father's royal-blue TVR out of the garage to show his friends and Miss Vaughan had asked for a ride in it.

Two friends, Daniel Smith and Paul Nelson, decided to follow the pair in a Renault Clio.

Mr Henry said: "As they left, Malone made remarks to Mr Smith, saying: "Now you will see the difference between this car and yours."

Counsel added: "Miss Vaughan told Malone not to go too fast, but he ignored that plea.

"He overtook a Mercedes car. Its driver was amazed at the acceleration of the TVR as it went past her.

"While he was overtaking, Miss Vaughan became aware of a car coming in the opposite direction.

"She expected Malone to pull in but he continued to overtake and accelerate up the hill.

"He then swerved violently into his own lane but the rear wheel skidded into mud on the side of the road and the car swerved across the carriageway.

"It went straight into the front of Miss MacDonald's car. The TVR then continued around in a 360-degree spin and pushed the Peugeot into the kerb.

"The crash was due to a combination of showing off, speed and overtaking when it was manifestly dangerous to do so."

Malone told the jury that he had driven the TVR, which can do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, about "10 or 12 times".

He maintained that his driving had not been excessive and that uneven tyre pressure had caused him to lose control.

He said: "I thought it was safe to overtake. I was there and I was driving, but I do not think I was taking a chance."