A drunk hit-and-run driver who killed a cyclist in a head-on crash after reaching for a cigarette has been jailed for more than three years.
Joseph Bills, 22, sent 35-year-old chef Dave Thorman 15ft into the air after striking him with van as he drove between pubs in Whitstable, Kent.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that labourer Bills was one-and-half times over the drink drive limit and had cocaine in his bloodstream at the time on March 3.
Labourer Joseph Bills (left), 22, sent 35-year-old chef Dave Thorman (right) 15ft into the air after striking him with van as he drove between pubs in Whitstable, Kent
Catherine Donnelly, prosecuting, said that instead of stopping at the scene Bills drove his Vauxhall Vivaro van to another pub despite its shattered windscreen.
Mrs Donnelly said: ‘He ordered a pint of Stella Artois, but staff noticed that his cheek looked puffy, that he looked drunk and his eyes were glazed.
‘Friends noticed that his van had a smashed windscreen and that he seemed to be in deep shock.
‘They went down the road to the scene of accident and returned to the pub to tell Bills that he had to hand himself in to police because he may have killed a cyclist.’
Bills, of Whitstable, arrived at the scene with his parents. He told one officer that he had veered into oncoming traffic after reaching down to pick up a cigarette.
Earlier that day, he had been working in Greenwich, South East London, before going to a pub in Whitstable where he drank beer and sambuca, and had beer at a barber’s where he had his hair cut.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Bills (pictured) was one-and-half times over the drink drive limit and had cocaine in his bloodstream at the time on March 3
At an earlier hearing Bills admitted causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
Bills said he had cocaine in his system after taking it the night before with a friend.
Phil Rowley, defending, told the court that Bills could now longer remember why the accident happened.
He said: ‘This was the end of a long working week and he was very tired. But the last thing you should do is mix alcohol with fatigue.
‘But he would like through me to apologise to Mr Thorman’s family. He is deeply remorseful.’
Mr Rowley added that Bills was of previous good character and had lost his job immediately after the accident.
Jailing him for three years and four months, Judge Rupert Lowe told him: ‘This was a tragic loss of life. You had no business being behind the wheel that night.
Mr Thorman was described by his family as ‘a wonderful young man, deeply loved by us, his parents, his siblings and his friends’
‘Nothing this court can do can compensate or reflect the total waste of human life represented by this wholly avoidable collision.’
After the hearing Mr Thorman’s father Terry said: ‘The tragic loss of our son, David Thorman, has affected our family forever – he was a wonderful young man, deeply loved by us, his parents, his siblings and his friends.
‘For us not to be there in his final moments and to consider the horrific way his life was taken is still, eight months later, unbearably painful.
Bills admitted causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident
‘What were once joy-filled family occasions are now tinged with sadness as we inevitably think of our missing son. It is so hard to face the rest of our lives without him.
‘Although angry at the irresponsible sequence of acts that led to his death we harbour no malice towards the young man who caused David’s death.
‘As Christians we know the reality of God’s forgiveness personally and pray that he will find forgiveness and freedom through knowing Christ, even while serving a sentence in prison.’
Bills was also banned from driving for 44 months. He must take an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel again.
Sergeant Glyn Walker, of the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, paid tribute to Mr Thorman’s family who, he said, had shown the utmost stoicism and bravery throughout the investigation and court case.
He said: ‘Joseph Bills showed a flagrant disregard for both the drink and drug drive limits and David Thorman paid the price,’ said Sergeant Walker.
‘Bills could have stopped to help David, yet he did not. But the tragedy could have been avoided altogether if he had only taken the decision not to drive with alcohol and a class A drug in his system.
‘Drink and drug driving can and does ruin lives. And while no sentence will ever compensate David’s family for their loss, I hope that today can at least bring some closure for them at this difficult time.’