by Julia Roberts

A motorist who left a moped rider to die after driving on the wrong side of the road and smashing into him has been jailed for seven years.

Danny Bourne fled the scene of the fatal collision in South Willesborough and only gave himself up to the police nine hours later.

He passed a breath test and claimed he had drunk little alcohol before the accident in which postman Adrian Hyde, 45, was struck by Bourne’s Ford Fiesta.

But a jury at Maidstone Crown Court took less than an hour to find him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Jailing the 27-year-old, Judge Andrew Patience QC described the evidence against him as “overwhelming” and said Bourne was in no fit state to drive at the time of the accident.

The judge added that the offence was aggravated by the fact Bourne had no insurance, failed to stop and delayed going to the police.

“You only thought of yourself. I have no doubt you were lying low because you knew that you would be breathalysed and found, almost certainly, although we shall never know and I cannot sentence you on this basis, but this was in your mind, to be over the limit.”

The judge also remarked that although it was not a prolonged course of dangerous driving it created a “substantial risk of danger”.

Bourne, of Breadlands Road, Ashford, denied causing death by dangerous driving but had admitted causing death while uninsured. He was jailed for that offence for 12 months concurrent.

He was also disqualified from driving for six years and must take an extended driving test before re-applying for his licence.

The jury heard Mr Hyde, of Herbert Road, was on his way to work at about 5am on October 26 2009. He was travelling along Canterbury Road on the correct side of the road when he was hit by Bourne.

The Fiesta was on the wrong side and collided head-on with Mr Hyde before hitting a parked Vauxhall Corsa.

The moped was crushed between the two vehicles. Mr Hyde was thrown clear but ended up fatally injured on the pavement. The married father died within two hours from multiple injuries.

Prosecutor John O’Higgins said several residents heard an “almighty crash” and came out of their houses to see a man running from the Fiesta.

Bourne eventually surrendered to Ashford police and gave low breath and urine readings. It was discovered he had visited two pubs the night before, including a “lock-in” past licensing hours.

However, he claimed he only had a minimal amount of alcohol because he was working the next day. Bourne added he drank more alcohol and took cocaine after the accident.

“He said he ran off because he was in shock after hitting his head on the steering wheel,” explained the prosecutor.