A death crash driver is starting a five-year jail sentence for an accident in which a man died.

Ryan Jefferies was told by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge he had defied warnings from friends and driven his car after drinking.

A court also heard how Jefferies did not have a driving licence at the time of the fatal crash and was over the alcohol limit.

He also had a previous conviction for drink driving and not having a licence, the court heard.

Jefferies, 29, showed no emotion as Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC jailed him for a total of five years.

He had denied a charge of causing the death of Martin Thew by careless driving while over the alcohol limit but admitted other charges of not having a driving licence and insurance. The jury's verdict was unanimous.

Passenger Martin Thew, 26, died in the crash in Berechurch Hall Road after Jefferies lost control of his Rover coupe and the car ended up on its roof.

The trial heard the accident took place shortly after 1am on August 30, 2003, on Berechurch Hall Road near the junction with Roman Way.

Jefferies, of Magnolia Drive, Colchester, had been out earlier in the evening with colleagues from Kent Blaxill at Megabowl where he was seen drinking.

Mr Thew, of Gascoigne Road, Colchester, died in the accident. Jefferies was slightly injured.

Stephen Harvey, mitigating, said Jefferies had been driving for eight or nine years without a licence but this incident was an isolated case of bad driving.

Apart from the five-year jail sentence, Jefferies was banned from driving for five years and told to take an extended test.

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Published Monday, January 10, 2005

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