One moment's lack of attention by a delivery driver cost the life of a "very remarkable" Ashford father, a court has heard.

Conscientious site manager Bryn Davies, 67, was planning to retire but wanted to complete his last construction project.

Mr Davies was hoping then to spend more time taking the grandchildren - who adored him - to watch Arsenal, and buy a home in Cyprus, a fishing boat and caravan.

But in April last year he was killed after his Mazda car was hit by a Mercedes Sprinter van on the narrow Newchurch Lane in Newchurch.

At the wheel of the van was delivery driver Grant Powell, 29, Crayford who admitted causing his death by driving carelessly.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how he had been looking at his mobile phone to see if it had connected, missed a bend and went across the road and struck the Mazda.

Today, Powell was jailed for two years and banned from driving for three years after Judge Adele Williams told him: "The standard of your driving wasn’t far short of dangerous driving because you were on the opposite side of the road as Mr Davies’ car was taking evasive action."

The Mazda was pushed into a dyke in a field and Mr Davies – described by the judge as "a very remarkable man" – died at the scene.

Prosecutor Anthony Heaton-Armstrong told the court: "Mr Davies was a very good driver taking good care not only of his vehicles but in the way that he drove. There is no question of any fault attaching to him in relation to the accident.

"This was caused by the defendant being on the wrong side of the road and being distracted through looking at his phone," he said.

He said in contrast Powell had a "poor driving record" which included convictions for using his phone while at the wheel, stopping on a Zebra crossing and driving without insurance.

In May 2012 he was spotted by police driving the van on the M20 in Ashford while looking down at his mobile phone and not wearing his seat belt.

Mr Heaton-Armstrong said when police investigated the accident they spoke with a number of local people who reported that Powell "tended to drive in an unacceptable way".

One, Martin McConnell, said the van driver had been seen in lanes at high speed while looking at his mobile phone.

The prosecutor added that just 40 minutes prior to the crash Grant had driven past a shop in High Street, Dymchurch at such a high speed, it shook a window.

The driver later delivered a package to Brooker Farm and then drove onto Newchurch Lane where he collided with the Mazda.

Powell told officers as he left the farm he dialed his boss on his phone which was connected by Bluetooth to the van’s on-board hands-free device.

"He said he put the phone on the dashboard but the phone didn’t ring and he glanced at the dashboard and at that moment the crash happened.

"He was a hard working family man who loved his job and was the absolute rock of the family, whom he adored" - Debbie Davies

"The crash was caused by this momentary inattention and it has not been possible to find out the speed of either vehicle," the prosecutor said.

Powell, who lost his job after the crash, said his relationship with his fiancée ended as he struggled to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

At the scene where he tried to offer help, he was seen by other motorists "shaking, crying and in shock".

Speaking after the sentencing, one of Bryn's daughters, Debbie Davies, said: "My Dad was a people-magnet, a man that everyone who ever met him loved.

"He had lived in Ashford for 30 years, moving here in 1985 with myself, my sister Lisa and mum Barbara.

"He was a hard working family man who loved his job and was the absolute rock of the family, whom he adored.

"I worshipped the ground he walked on. Dad was so much more than a dad to me and my sisters, and grandad to my four children - he was a best friend to every one of us.

"We had such a close relationship, saw each other every day especially after losing my mum to cancer in January 2010, and now miss him terribly.

"It is very hard to accept that he has gone because of someone's careless actions. We hope that today brings us not only justice but also a little bit of closure. It has been a nightmare of a year."

Senior investigating officer DS Scott Lynch praised Mr Davies' family for "the dignified way in which they conducted themselves over the past year".

He added: "There were no witnesses to this collision, so I had to rely on forensic evidence to prove that Powell drove his van in the opposing carriageway."

He also thanked the work done by colleagues PC Terry Collins and DC Di Walker "for their efforts in finding this evidence and building a compelling picture of Powell’s poor driving that day".

DS Lynch added: "This death would have been avoided but for Powell's insistence on trying to call his boss on a hands-free mobile inside the cab."

Debbie was in court to hear the sentencing, along with Mr Davies' sister, niece, granddaughter and son-in-law.

"He was his step-daughter's carer so the effect of his premature death has had a devastating effect on the family" - Prosecutor Anthony Heaton-Armstrong

Prosecutor Anthony Heaton-Armstrong told the court: "He was devoted to his family and was very fond of football, being an Arsenal fan and regularly went with his grandchildren to home games.

"Along with Deborah he was his step-daughter's carer so the effect of his premature death has had a devastating effect on the family."

She told the judge in her victim impact statement said he father's death had hit the family "like a steam train".

The prosecutor added: "Deborah said her father was her rock and her best friend. His death had turned her life upside down.

"She thinks about him every day because they had a special relationship and the longest she had gone without seeing him in her life was just two weeks."

Grandson Kenny told how he enjoyed going to watch Arsenal, and that he was "always making him laugh with jokes and stories". They also enjoyed going each weekend to the beach.

He said his grandfather was his best friend adding: "I loved him so much, I can’t believe he is not coming back".

Granddaughter Megan added that he was "much more than a grandfather, he was also her best friend, helping her and always knowing what to say when she was concerned."

Mr Davies worked for the Folkestone-based construction firm Jenner.

A spokesman said at the time of the tragedy: "It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Bryn Davies was involved in a fatal car crash on his way home from work.

"Bryn joined Jenner in June 1990, and had been a much liked and respected member of our team since then. Our condolences go out to his family at this time of distress."