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Can swigging driver killed woman Can swigging driver killed woman
(10 minutes later)
A driver who was swigging from a can of lager before crashing into a motorbike, killing its pillion passenger, has been jailed for seven years.A driver who was swigging from a can of lager before crashing into a motorbike, killing its pillion passenger, has been jailed for seven years.
Bricklayer James Ward Douglas, 21, from Carmarthen, was "exhausted" after being up all the previous night drinking and had taken Ecstasy. James Ward Douglas, 21, from Carmarthen, had been drinking all night and had taken Ecstasy when he drove into the path of the bike.
Karen Boulcott died and dentist husband Mark, 46, the motorcyclist, now uses a wheelchair, Swansea Crown Court heard. Pillion passenger Karen Boulcott died. Her husband Mark, now uses a wheelchair, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Douglas was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving on the A40. Douglas was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in October.
The court had heard he was swigging from cans he had just bought when he turned into the path of the Boulcott's motorcycle. The court had heard that Douglas, of Rhydargaeau, was drunk and exhausted when he was driving two friends along the A40 at 1000 BST on 8 October last year.
Judge John Diehl said no sentence could compensate for the grief caused.
The court had heard Douglas, of Rhydargaeau, who told police he thought he was a moderate drinker, was drunk and exhausted when he was driving two friends.
Mark Boulcott spent more than two months in hospitalMark Boulcott spent more than two months in hospital
He had been to a nightclub and an all-night party in October last year. They were on their way back from all-night drinking session during which Douglas drunk a bottle of wine, 12 bottles of lager and four cans of cider and had taken an Ecstasy tablet.
He had drunk a bottle of wine, 12 bottles of lager and four cans of cider and had taken an Ecstasy tablet.
The following morning he drove to Tesco in Carmarthen to buy more drink before heading to Oakwood fun park in his Renault Clio car.The following morning he drove to Tesco in Carmarthen to buy more drink before heading to Oakwood fun park in his Renault Clio car.
The park was closed so he and his passengers decided to go to Cardiff for the day when Douglas turned left on the A40 instead of right.The park was closed so he and his passengers decided to go to Cardiff for the day when Douglas turned left on the A40 instead of right.
The crash happened when he tried to turn right into a road junction, intending to turn round, but did not see Mark and Karen Boulcott approaching on their Triumph motor bike, even though their headlights were on. He tried to do a u-turn at the junction and said he did not see Mark and Karen Boulcott approaching on their Triumph motor bike.
Mrs Boulcott, who was the assistant in her husband's dental surgery, died at the scene.Mrs Boulcott, who was the assistant in her husband's dental surgery, died at the scene.
Mr Boulcott suffered fractures to his pelvis, leg and arm and spent 75 days in hospital, where he received 50 units of blood and underwent numerous operations.Mr Boulcott suffered fractures to his pelvis, leg and arm and spent 75 days in hospital, where he received 50 units of blood and underwent numerous operations.
In these really tragic cases that no sentence can ever serve to ease the hurt and the grief Judge John DiehlIn these really tragic cases that no sentence can ever serve to ease the hurt and the grief Judge John Diehl
He may have to undergo joint replacements if he is to ever walk unaided, the court was told.He may have to undergo joint replacements if he is to ever walk unaided, the court was told.
The prosecution at Douglas' trial claimed he would have been able to see the Pembrokeshire couple's motorcycle for at least five seconds and the only explanation for the crash was that he was drunk and exhausted. The prosecution at Douglas' trial last month claimed he would have been able to see the Pembrokeshire couple's motorcycle for at least five seconds and the only explanation for the crash was that he was drunk and exhausted.
The court was told medical evidence suggested a "moderate drinker" would have suffered disorientation and dizziness with the amount of alcohol Douglas had in his body The court was told that medical evidence suggested a "moderate drinker" would have suffered disorientation and dizziness with the amount of alcohol Douglas had in his body
He had admitted still being more than twice over the drink drive limit 90 minutes after the crash and is currently banned. He was still being more than twice over the drink drive limit 90 minutes after the crash and is currently banned.
The judge said he had no doubt Douglas was generally "a decent young man". Judge John Diehl said no sentence could compensate for the grief caused.
But he said his dangerous driving had caused Mrs Boulcott's death and left her husband "grievously injured and a family devastated". "It has been said so many times in these really tragic cases that no sentence can ever serve to ease the hurt and the grief of those who mourn and those who continue to suffer," he said.
"You must have failed to look and to see the obvious. They stood no chance of avoiding you. After the sentence, Mr Boulcott said he had "needlessly" lost his wife and best friend and his 13-year-old son had lost his mother.
"It has been said so many times in these really tragic cases that no sentence can ever serve to ease the hurt and the grief of those who mourn and those who continue to suffer," added the judge. "This was on a par with somone with a shotgun mucking around and causing the death of an innocent bystander," he said.
After the sentence, Mr Boulcott said he had lost his wife and best friend and his 13 year old son had lost his mother. Douglas was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back.
He said his wife had "died needlessly."
"This was on a par with somone with a shotgun mucking around and causing the death of an innocent bystander," he said