A MAN involved in a crash on the A12 which led to the death of a father-of-three was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years. Warren Fernandez, 41, of Elmgrove Road, Gorleston, appeared at Norwich Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

A MAN involved in a crash on the A12 which led to the death of a father-of-three was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Warren Fernandez, 41, of Elmgrove Road, Gorleston, appeared at Norwich Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Andrew Mackay died after the car he was travelling in was hit by Fernandez's silver BMW on the stretch of road between Hopton and Gorleston.

The court heard that Fernandez had been driving at such high speeds that when the car left the road and hit the central reservation it took off and spun 180 degrees in the air as it crossed onto the opposite side of the road into the path of oncoming traffic. The rear of the BMW collided with the Ford Escort being driven by Mr Mackay, 38, from Kennington Park Road, London.

Mr Mackay died at the scene and his partner Jacqueline Helder and three children were hospitalised for three days.

The court heard that on the night of crash on April 12 the defendant had been seen drinking in a pub in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, and had also been witnessed driving dangerously on the A12, tailgating vehicles, overtaking and showing off to his mates.

When police arrived on scene Fernandez became abusive towards officers and could be heard shouting it was the other drivers fault.

Fernandez was arrested and blood tests later revealed that he was twice over the legal limit.

The court heard that he had a string of previous convictions for drink driving, driving while disqualified as well as a number of drug convictions.

Sentencing Fernandez to six-and-a-half years Judge Alasdair Darroch said: “This is quite an appalling case and you are solely responsible for the tragic consequences of your driving.”