A father-of-three was three times over the drug-drive limit when his speeding car hit and killed a 69-year-old ex-soldier.

But experts believe Glen Heaton's cannabis smoking had not contributed to the accident in which the victim was thrown 60 metres.

Brian Durden - a Gillingham fan who never missed a home game - died from "catastrophic injuries" at the scene in Four Elms Hill at Hoo on October 26, 2020.

Now 42-year-old Glen Heaton has been jailed for 50 months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Durden's sister, Susan Sands, told Maidstone Crown Court how members of the family had heard about an accident on the radio but it was only the following day that it was confirmed by police who the victim was.

"My family will never recover and no sentence will bring Brian back to us,” she wrote in a victim impact statement.

Mr Durden, who walked with a stick, had a career in the Army but left after developing arthritis in his legs.

He was still active in the community where he was the caller at bingo nights.

Judge Charles Macdonald also banned the defendant from driving for six years and a month and ordered him to re-take his driving test.

Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly said that Heaton's Peugeot had been travelling at 12mph above the 40mph limit at the time of the accident at 5.55pm.

She said that Mr Durden had reached the toucan crossing but had not pressed the button before stepping into the road.

Heaton, who had been visiting a friend, later told police he was travelling at about 50mph and the lights were green.

She said that following the accident, Durden went to a nearby petrol station and asked staff to call for an ambulance.

The dock worker later told police he had been smoking cannabis over the previous weekend but not on the day of the crash.

Experts later found that the two front tyres of the Peugeot had a tread which was illegal and a third tyre had not been fitted properly.

But the court heard that neither the cannabis nor the tyres had contributed to the accident.

Lauren Hebditch, defending, said that during the Covid lockdown Heaton had volunteered to deliver medical products.

"He still suffers from panic attacks, night tremors and flashbacks and constantly washes his hands and feels they are covered in blood,” she said.

"He is genuinely remorseful and is devastated by his actions and feels deeply ashamed."

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Faye Murphy said: “The dangerous manner of Heaton’s driving has led to a man tragically and needlessly losing his life.”

She added: “Heaton will now have to live with the consequences of his actions that have left a family mourning the loss of a loved one.

“A prison sentence in these circumstances is entirely appropriate.’