the car will sound weird , as if the engine is "free", when you try to start it.
The mechanic is probably right, the timing belt is snapped, and what that means is, the cam shaft won't move and so the distributor can not produce a signal.
just replace the belt.
To verify that timing belt is broken, open the engine oil filler cap, and look inside the hole while someone cranks the engine.
There will be no movement of tappets if the timing belt is broken
