A drink driver smashed up his car and killed a passenger after sinking six pints with vodka chasers in the pub.

Martin Walton, 35, of Trinity Road, Gillingham, got four-and-half years for causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink.

He admitted the charge yesterday when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Walton was caught two-and-half times over the legal blood alcohol limit.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Walton was caught after an investigation by the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit into a collision on Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, on June 15, 2009.

The incident occurred at around 11.35pm when a Saab, driven by Walton collided with a Ford Fiesta travelling in the opposite direction.

The Saab then left the carriageway and collided with a tree and overturned.

Passenger Brian Robinson, 63, from Barming, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others in the Saab had serious injuries and those in the Ford suffered minor injuries.

Insp Rob Smith, head of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said "Once again, the tragic consequences of a driver being drunk at the wheel are brought to the attention of the public in the most dramatic way.

"I would hope that this would act as a timely reminder that, with summer approaching, drink driving is an act which can have serious and tragic consequences, not only for the drunk driver, but also for those who become involved in collisions they may have."

In a statement released to KentOnline, Mr Robinson’s family said they were satisfied with the sentence and added: "There’s nothing that will bring our dad back.

"We just hope that it will stop others getting behind the wheel after having a drink."