Drunk driver jailed after passenger killed

A man who drank nine pints of beer before he crashed his car and killed one of his passengers has been handed a three-year jail sentence.

Jack Goodman, 27 from Golitha Rise, Liskeard appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard how he had given lifts to two friends after more than six hours at a village pub in Blackawton, Devon, in 2024.

Back seat passenger Tom McNally, 31, suffered serious injuries and died in hospital two days later.

The court heard Goodman lost control and crashed at Halwell Cross, Devon, in poor weather conditions.

Judge Robert Linford said to Goodman: "You are quite clearly soaked in remorse."

He said McNally's death was "utterly needless and utterly avoidable" and caused by Goodman's "reckless decision to drive".

Goodman had admitted causing death by careless driving while being over the drink drive limit, and causing serious injury by careless driving at a previous hearing.

The court heard cocaine was also found in his system.

He was also banned from driving for six and a half years.

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