A DRINK-driver has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for causing the death of a 54-year-old barman.

It was the third time that Paul Fentiman had been before the courts for driving while over the limit.

The 46-year-old father was estimated to be more than one-and-a-half times the legal driving limit when he smashed into Clive Weatherley’s Renault 19 on February 12 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Fentiman fled from the scene after telling a witness he would get “nicked” because he was “lagered”.

Mr Weatherley, of Romney Road, Lydd, had been driving home on the A28 near Tenterden from his job as barman at The Bull public house in Rolvenden, late at night.

John O’Higgins, prosecuting, said the collision had happened as the victim approached a bend and Fentiman’s Renault Megane crossed the white line from the opposite direction.

“Although he was wearing a seatbelt, Mr Weatherley was killed,” said Mr O’Higgins. “Ironically, the driver of the Megane, who was not wearing a seatbelt, survived almost without injury, doubtless because his vehicle had an air bag.”

The two cars ended up side by side outside a bungalow on the road. Mr Weatherley’s car was embedded in the garden wall.

David Chapman came out of the bungalow and was joined by a passing driver. They could not get any response from Mr Weatherley, who was dead.

Mr Chapman saw that Fentiman had blood on his face. He went over to speak to him and could smell drink.

Fentiman asked: “Do you want me to stay here, so that I can get nicked?” Asked why he thought he would be nicked as it was only an accident, he replied: “Because I’m lagered.”

Mr O’Higgins said Fentiman was given a blanket but then hid in nearby bushes.

The prosecutor said it was four-and-a-half hours before Fentiman had blood samples taken as he had been taken to hospital.

Mr O’Higgins said of the sample: “It recorded his blood alcohol level at 63mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. This is below the legal limit for driving, which is 80.”

But that was not the level at the time of driving. Back-calculation put the level at about 143mg in 100ml of blood, which was “substantially over the limit”.

Mr O’Higgins said the accident was caused by Fentiman driving without due care and attention.

He was convicted of driving with excess alcohol in 1987 and 1993 and was fined and banned on both occasions.

Fentiman, of Brixton, south east London, was due to stand trial but then admitted causing death by careless driving.

Susan Rainsford, mother of Fentiman’s three children, told the court that there had been a big change in him. “He is more withdrawn,” she said. “He feels really guilty. Especially at Christmas, he was thinking a lot about the other family.”

Mark Lucraft, defending, said Fentiman had expressed his sorrow for what happened. He had not worked or driven since the accident.

Also banning Fentiman from driving for four years, Judge Michael Neligan told him: “Nothing I am able to say or do can repair the tragic loss you caused by your driving. No sentence can place a value on life, nor is it intended to.”