Michael Leach had pleaded not guilty at Exeter Crown Court

Michael Leach, 29, had been speaking to his sister for two minutes and 33 seconds when he drove his Vauxhall Astra across the single carriageway road into the path of a Ford Fiesta on the A30 near Marazanvose in Cornwall on 29 July 2002.

Leach's sister heard a loud scream when the Vauxhall collided virtually head-on with the Fiesta driven by David Evans, killing Mr Evans' wife Jean, 67, who was a passenger.

Leach, 29, of Kinnerton Way, Exeter, Devon, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court on Friday of causing Mrs Evans' death by dangerous driving.

No sentence could ever justify the loss of our Mum Steven Somers, son of Jean Evans

He was also banned from driving for 10 years by Judge Francis Gilbert QC.

Mrs Evans, from Tiverton, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on 29 July 2002.

In court on Friday were 57-year-old Mr Evans, who suffered broken bones in both legs, and members of his wife's family.

Leach, who suffered a bruised ankle in the crash, showed no emotion at the verdict.

The judge told Leach he had been convicted on the clearest evidence.

Jean Evans had 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren

"You did not need to be on the phone that night, there was no emergency, it was not necessary," he told him.

"What happened was a tragedy for Mr Evans and his family.

"Not only did he lose his wife, he has been gravely injured and disabled," the judge went on.

He accepted that the case had also been a tragedy for Leach and told him: "You have not only ruined Mr Evans' life but your own."

'Justice served'

Defence counsel Iain Leadbetter said that prison would "break" Leach, who had been a sales manager at a Comet store in Torquay at the time of the accident.

Leach told the court he did not remember using his mobile phone while driving.

The defendant told the court he had a hands-free kit with a lapel microphone and an earpiece.

He told the jury: "I do not remember using the telephone on the journey. I do not know what happened."

Outside court, Mrs Evans' son, Steven Somers, said: "I would like to thank the jury for justice being served today.

"No sentence could ever justify the loss of our mum."