Canterbury Crown Court, where Open's trial was heard

A family have paid tribute to a 'loving husband and nephew' - killed when a Polish truck driver rammed into the back of his car.

Speaking after Tomasz Siwon's sentence, Marc Open's relatives described him as "an integral part of our family and his love, generosity and humour will be missed by us all."

Van driver Siwon, 32, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for two years.

It came after the accident on the London-bound carriageway of the M20 at Stanford on June 19 last year.

Mr Open, 48, had been driving his Ford Jeep with pal Robin Cecil in the front seat, with both heading home to Sussex.

Suddenly, just past the slip road for junction 11, the Jeep was struck from behind by Siwon's Renault Luton van.

He was driving too fast, and unable to change lanes, the court heard.

Mr Open's Jeep overturned, throwing Mr Cecil out of the vehicle. Mr Open was taken to the William Harvey hospital in Ashford, but later died.

Marc Open's family said in a statement: "Nothing can ever replace the emptiness we feel as a result of his sudden and tragic death.

'We are understandably pleased that Tomasz Siwon was convicted of causing Marc's death by careless driving.

"We feel the defendant's driving was inappropriate for the circumstances and realise he will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life.

"Nonetheless, the pain for us goes much deeper as Marc was an integral part of our family and his love, generosity and humour will be missed by us all.

"He touched so many people's lives in such a positive way and we now hope he is at peace and is satisfied some form of justice has been done in his memory."