A driver who hit a woman crossing the road in Melbourne, dragged her body to a nature strip and fled, has been jailed for his "despicable" and "cowardly" crime.
Thomas Street, 32, left South Sudanese community leader and mother-of-five Abiol Atem Manyang dead on the side of the road at Ardeer in May 2019.
Street was jailed in Victoria's County Court on Tuesday for two years, with a non-parole period of 15 months, after pleading guilty to failing to stop and render assistance.
"What you did was despicable and cowardly," Judge Peter Lauritsen said.
Ms Manyang died instantly in the crash, with her body becoming embedded in the cabin of Street's unregistered car.
The driver continued on for another 220 metres before pulling over, removing the body and laying it next to the road.
He went home, removed his numberplates, covered the car with a tarp and said he thought he'd hit someone.
Street turned himself in to police the next day.
His driving did not cause the crash.
But he should have at least stayed at the scene and contacted emergency services, Judge Lauritsen said.
Ms Manyang had five daughters. She was a greatly loved and respected leader in Melbourne's South Sudanese community.
About 5000 mourners turned out to her funeral.
Street was fined $750 for driving an unregistered car.
He's already spent 92 days in custody and this will count towards his sentence.
