The scene of the crash in Snave, Romney Marsh. Picture: Peter Stretton, Kent Skywatch Civil Air Patrol.

by Paul Hooper

A lorry driver who killed an Ashford dad-of-two in a head-on crash has told a court: "I am sorry beyond words... and I will die sorry."

Clifford Sparks, 52, wept as a judge heard he had been speeding along the A2070, at Snave, on Romney Marsh, in March 2010.

When a lorry he was following too closely braked hard, Mr Sparks swerved into the path of an oncoming car - driven by father-of-two Spencer Williams, 42, from Ashford.

Mr Williams, whose widow was in court for the hearing, died from his injuries.

Sparks, of Vickers Lane, Dartford, initially denied causing death by driving carelessly - but changed his plea after being cross-examined during his trial last November.

The offence carries a maximum five-year jail sentence - but Judge Simon James heard Sparks was carrying "a burden which is almost unbearable" and the death has had "a crushing effect" on him.

He has now been jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for two years.

Christopher May, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court Sparks had been following an articulated lorry along the road from Brenzett to Ashford, which has a 40mph restriction for lorries.

He said the driver of the first lorry was heading for a farm and missed his first turning - and braked hard.

The court heard Sparks was too close and swerved to avoid hitting the lorry and into the path of Mr Williams' oncoming Renault.

"Mr Williams had been driving in a perfectly ordinary manner, within the speed limit, and had done nothing wrong," said Mr May.

"you are a decent and responsible person who has suffered considerable punishment - and will regret it for the rest of his life…” – judge simon james

Luke Blackburn, defending, said it was only after Sparks had been cross-examined during his trial did "it dawn on him that he must have been driving too close".

He added: "He has shown an exceptional level of remorse and anger at himself.

"He just could not at first bring himself to deal with what he has done - he just couldn't bring himself to see it.

"He is a decent and honest man and is well regarded by his family, friends and work colleagues.

"He has shown quite exceptional remorse - not just today, for the rest of his life. He is sorry beyond words and he will die sorry."

The judge said the Williams family had "lost its heart" and no sentence he could impose "could be considered adequate for such a loss".

Judge James said he accepted Sparks' remorse was genuine and he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after the fatal crash.

He sad: "You are a decent and responsible person who has suffered considerable punishment - and will regret it for the rest of his life.

"But that is a luxury that will never be afforded Mr Williams and his innocent family who has now lost its heart."

A driver of another lorry was acquitted at another trial of causing death by careless driving.