Motorist jailed for death of his friend

A Shropshire father-of-two who caused the death of his best friend by driving "like a maniac" while almost three times the legal drink-drive limit has been jailed for four years.

Peter Evans sobbed in the dock as he was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court for causing the death of James Lloyd Roberts on March 1 on the B5476 Wem to Harmer Hill road, near the Sleap turning.

Evans, 29, of Aston Street, Wem, had earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving while over the drink-drive limit.

On the day in question Mr Roberts, 27, from Liverpool, was visiting Wem where he grew up, the court heard.

Mrs Jo Barker, prosecuting, said Mr Roberts and another friend Jason Smallwood shared the passenger seat in a two-seater MGF car being driven towards Wem by Evans.

"Other motorists said he was driving like a maniac and there is evidence of tailgating, speeding and aggressive driving from various witnesses," she said.

"Despite warning signs, the defendant tried to overtake a BMW close to a bend and pulled out into the other carriageway."

After swerving to try and avoid an oncoming motorbike, Evans lost control of the car and it spun before hitting a hedge.

Mr Roberts suffered multiple head injuries and later died. Breath tests showed Evans had 92 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms.