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| Can swigging driver killed woman | Can swigging driver killed woman |
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| 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. |
| James Ward Douglas, 21, of Carmarthen, had been drinking all night and had taken Ecstasy when he drove into the path of the bike in Pembrokeshire. | |
| Pillion passenger Karen Boulcott died. Her husband Mark, 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 in October. | Douglas was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in October. |
| The court had heard that Douglas, of Rhydargaeau, was drunk and exhausted when he was driving two friends along the A40 near Narberth at 1000 BST on 7 October last year. | |
| Mark Boulcott spent more than two months in hospital | Mark Boulcott spent more than two months in hospital |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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 Diehl | In 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 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 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 that 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 was 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. |
| Judge John Diehl said no sentence could compensate for the grief caused. | Judge John Diehl said no sentence could compensate for the grief caused. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "This was on a par with somone with a shotgun mucking around and causing the death of an innocent bystander," he said. | "This was on a par with somone with a shotgun mucking around and causing the death of an innocent bystander," he said. |
| Douglas was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back. | Douglas was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back. |