A father who caused the death of a pick-up truck driver in a head-on crash has been jailed for three years.

Dennis Barker overtook other traffic at speed in his BMW car when there was an advisory 20mph speed limit in force because of loose chippings.

His view obscured by flying grit and dust, he smashed into a Mitsubishi truck coming in the other direction and killed driver Stanley Draper, who was not wearing a seatbelt.

A judge told Barker he should have known road conditions were “adverse” because of signs on the B2042 in Sevenoaks.

The 57-year-old, of Perry Hill, Orpington, admitted causing death by dangerous driving on May 31 last year. He was banned from driving for four years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Barker was driving home from work at about 7pm along Cold Arbor Road, which had been resurfaced that morning.

Prosecutor Martin Yale said there were signs indicating loose gravel and the risk of skidding, as well as the advisory speed limit. The usual limit there was 60mph.

Barker was fourth in a line of cars driving slowly on the single carriageway. A Saab car that was third in line pulled out and sped past. Barker then followed.

One driver thought the two cars were racing, but Mr Yale said that was not suggested by the prosecution.

“A head-on collision was inevitable” - Prosecutor Martin Yale

Georgina Grist had been second in line and said later it felt like handfuls of gravel were being thrown at the side of her car as the Saab and BMW passed.

Barker went by and pulled back onto the correct side of the road, but then fishtailed seemingly out of control and back onto the wrong side as Mr Draper, 54, approached in the opposite direction.

“A head-on collision was inevitable,” said Mr Yale. “Mr Draper was travelling slowly at the time and had almost stopped.”

After the impact other drivers went over to the victim and saw he was not breathing.

He died from head, abdominal and leg injuries before the emergency services arrived.

Barker was also injured and could lose his left foot.

The prosecutor said a crash expert concluded the accident was caused by Barker’s low standard of driving.

Judge Michael Carroll, who declared he knew the road well, told Barker: “There was no compulsion on you to follow the Saab.”