Dad-of-three killed by drug driver after 999 call

A man who had taken a legal drug and was "swerving all over the road" in his mother's Jaguar before causing a fatal crash has been jailed for more than nine years.

Adam Bates, 23, of Chatteris, said he had "previously been addicted to benzodiazepines" and had taken one the night before a four-vehicle collision in August on the A10 between Stretham and Chittering, Cambridgeshire.

The crash killed 53-year-old William Doherty and seriously injured his wife, Susan, leaving her with a bleed on the brain.

Sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Philip Grey told Bates - who previously admitted death by dangerous driving - a family had been "torn apart" by his "bad and selfish choices".

The court had heard how Bates was "using a number of prescription drugs" not prescribed to him.

Bates had also admitted to causing serious injury to Mrs Doherty by dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Mrs Doherty was in a Mini Cooper with her husband when, shortly after 07:00 BST on 15 August, she called police about a Jaguar driving ahead of them "swerving all over the road", prosecutor Marti Blair said.

"Within minutes the line went dead as the collision had taken place," Ms Blair said.

The Jaguar had collided with a road sweeping lorry, after veering into its lane, Ms Blair said.

She said this caused the road sweeper to lose control and spin into the Mini, which ended up in a field.

The court was told Bates "appeared drowsy" at the side of the road.

Benzodiazepines is a group of depressant drugs generally prescribed for anxiety and occasionally sleeping problems.

"The most common side effects include drowsiness, confusion and visual disturbance," Ms Blair said.

"It can produce a state of intoxication similar to that of alcohol," she added.

Dashcam footage of Bates' driving showed him speeding up and slowing down.

Bates had three convictions for 10 previous offences "mostly related to driving", including careless driving and driving with excess alcohol.

He also previously received a suspended sentence for a crash in which he injured himself.

In a victim impact statement, read by the prosecutor, Mrs Doherty said: "My children have lost their dad and I've lost the love of my life."

A letter written by Bates and read to the court expressed his "sincerest remorse".

The judge jailed Bates for nine years and four months and banned him from driving for 12 years and one month.

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