A young French man convicted of causing the death of a Tenterden father-of-two through careless driving has today been jailed for 18 months.

Alexis Fleury, 25, had denied causing the death of 61-year-old David Crane by dangerous driving and causing his death by careless driving.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court acquitted him of the dangerous driving charge, but found him guilty of the lesser offence.

Passing sentence, Judge James O'Mahony said: "This is a very difficult and anxious case.

"From what I have heard of the defendant I appreciate he is of good character and had no malice towards Mr Crane or indeed anyone else.

"But the life of a husband, soul mate, carer and father has been lost for ever.

"Everyone would wish they had a magic wand to turn back the time.

"I am quite sure from the evidence that the defendant was excited at seeing his girlfriend again after a separation of some time and he was driving quite late at night when, I am sure, he was quite tired.

"He drove on the wrong side of the road, giving Mr Crane no chance at all. I find that this was for a significant distance and that this was highly likely to result in a collision.

"He confessed at the scene to the offence. He knew at that time that he had been on the wrong side of the road."

Judge O'Mahony said Fleury, who lives in Orleans, could have admitted the careless driving charge, which would have eased the Crane family's ordeal.

He added: "I accept that he is genuinely remorseful."

In addition to the 18-month prison term, Fleury was banned from driving for three years and before he can drive again in England he will have to take a driving test.

After the case, Mr Crane's widow Philomena issued a statement saying that losing her husband so suddenly and in such tragic circumstances had been "absolutely devastating" for her and her twin daughters.

"David was very much a family man," she said. "His family miss him very much and are struggling to cope without him."

She said he was only 61 and she felt as if she had been robbed of the chance to spend her retirement with the man she loved.

Mrs Crane said: "The fact the driver of the car which struck David denied being on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened has been really hard for the family to come to terms with but we are relieved Canterbury Crown Court has found the defendant guilty of causing death by careless driving.

"No sentence can bring David back or make up for losing him in such tragic circumstances, but we feel that justice has prevailed now that someone has been held accountable for causing his death.

"We hope that David's case shows the devastating consequences driving carelessly can have on not just the victims who are killed or seriously injured but on their heartbroken families too."