A Melbourne man who was on the way to buy drugs when he lost control of a stolen car and killed Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer last year has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Key points: Judge Michael McInerney said Michael Panayides held a "blatant disregard for life and safety of others"

Judge Michael McInerney said Michael Panayides held a "blatant disregard for life and safety of others" The judge cancelled Panayides's licence and banned him from driving for 20 years to protect the public

The judge cancelled Panayides's licence and banned him from driving for 20 years to protect the public Panayides will be able to apply for parole in eight-and-a-half years

Ms Scheenhouwer, 27, was on her way to work last year when a Mercedes driven by Michael Panayides swerved into a bike lane on Chapel Street in South Yarra and clipped a car.

Ms Scheenhouwer was pinned against another car and later died at the scene.

Panayides then fled, but was arrested in Elizabeth Street in Melbourne's CBD after being recognised by a member of the public.

He later admitted to police that he had injected heroin the night before the crash.

Ms Scheenhouwer travelled to Australia in May last year with her boyfriend. ( Facebook: Gitta Scheenhouwer )

Panayides, 28, pleaded guilty to five charges including culpable driving causing death, and was today sentenced in the Victorian County Court.

He will be eligible for parole in eight-and-a-half years.

'The public needs to be protected from you'

Judge Michael McInerney said Panayides's offending was a serious case of "negligent, culpable driving, emanating from the blatant disregard for life and safety of others on the road".

"Each of the victims has suffered a profound sense of needless loss at your hands," Judge McInerney said.

"You are clearly not a person with an unblemished character."

The court heard Mr Panayides had a "lengthy" criminal history and had previously been imprisoned over four armed robberies.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds 1 m 20 s Judge Michael McInerney said the 11-year prison term was needed to protect the public.

"Your prior offending demonstrates your prospects of rehabilitation to be poor," Judge McInerney said.

"Your sentence must be one which protects the community."

Judge McInerney cancelled Panayides's licence and banned him from driving for 20 years.

"The public needs to be protected from you as so far as is possible," he said.

Panayides has served 460 days in prison.

Ms Scheenhouwer died from her injuries after she was pinned to a car on Chapel Street. ( ABC News )

'It remains incomprehensible to me that I'm now alone'

Ms Scheenhouwer had recently moved to Melbourne with her boyfriend and had just been given her dream job as a graduate architect days before she died.

Her parents, siblings and partner Thomas Kleinegris travelled from the Netherlands to be in court for the sentence.

Last week, victim impact statements from the family were read out in court.

Thomas Kleinegris told the court last week he could not imagine a life without Ms Scheenhouwer. ( Facebook: Thomas Kleinegris )

Mr Kleinegris wept when he told the court last week that he felt completely alone and mourned the children he would have had with Ms Scheenhouwer.

The pair met almost a decade ago and knew instantly they would spend their lives together.

"It's important to realise that Gitta and I had been together for one third of our lives," Mr Kleinegris said.

"It remains incomprehensible to me that I'm now alone."

Mr Kleinegris told the court that Ms Scheenhouwer's death had changed his life and that their future together had been destroyed.

"Dozens of times per week I am confronted by the fact that I am no longer with Gitta," he said.

"I've been forced to start a life on my own. With her I dreamt of a future.

"One thing was certain for Gitta: we would've had a large family with four children."

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