A MOTORIST has been jailed for four years after his decision to drink and drive resulted in the death of a young man in Basingstoke.

Richard Storry, 34, of Evesham Road, Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 27-year-old Chris Burgess by driving without due care and attention whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

Storry was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for three years.

As previously reported by The Gazette Mr Burgess, of Haydock Close, Alton, was the driver of a Volkswagen Golf which was involved in a collision with a Volkwagen Tiguan driven by Storry on the A339 at Winslade, on May 12, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard how Storry decided to drive his parents’ Volkswagen Tigun from Lasham Airfield to Basingstoke in order to get a burger, despite being almost twice the drink drive limit.

The judge heard that Storry travelled quarter of a mile down the wrong side of the A339 before colliding head on with the vehicle driven by Mr Burgess.

Police Sergeant Darren Ord, from Hampshire constabulary’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Time and again we are faced with the devastating consequences of drink driving.

“Despite the clear and obvious dangers of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol people continue to ignore them and think ‘it won’t happen to them’.

“The death of Mr Burgess could have been avoided if Storry had simply not made the reckless and irresponsible decision to drive that night.
“This sentence will never be able to make up for the devastation caused to the family of Mr Burgess but I hope it sends a strong message to those who think it is ok to drink and drive – it is not worth the risk and we will not tolerate it.

“Our roads policing teams are currently in the middle of our summer crackdown on drink and drug driving and there is no starker warning than this incident to show how a decision to get behind the wheel after drinking can destroy lives.”