A HIT and run truck driver who killed a man after drinking and taking drugs has avoided jail.

Darren Kettley crashed his 32- tonne truck into a Suzuki Swift being driven by Charles Mayes, 95, in Frinton Road, Kirby Cross.

He stopped briefly, but drove away despite realising Mr Mayes was hurt.

A member of the public came across the aftermath and found Mr Mayes seriously injured and licence plate from Kettley’s truck.

Kettley was stopped by police 90 minutes later on the A130 near Benfleet.

He was given a suspended sentence when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Speaking after the hearing, Norma Clifford, Mr Mayes’ daughter, said: “Accidents happen, but what we cannot get over is the fact Mr Kettley didn’t even call for help.

“He didn’t know what injuries my father had sustained, he just left the scene.

“This is something he will have to carry for the rest of his life.”

Ian Allen, prosecuting, said Kettley had drunk three pints as part of a Christmas celebration at a pub before going to work in his HGV at 6.30pm, having not eaten for 24 hours.

He had smoked cannabis and drunk a four pack of beer the night before.

The crash happened on December 12 at 10.30pm. He had at least 83mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood when the crash took place.

The limit is 80.

Mr Allen said when Kettley, 47, was interviewed and told police the driver emerged and he was unable to stop.

Mr Allen said he panicked after the crash, adding: “He did not know what was going through his mind”.

Laura Stephenson, mitigating, said Kettley deeply regrets his actions and will carry the remorse with him for the rest of his life.

The former soldier, and father to a disabled daughter, has had a HGV licence for 27 years.

He lost his job after the crash.

Miss Stephenson said: “It is a source of great shame his actions may have a detrimental impact on his daughter’s life.”

Joanna Bisdee, chairman of the bench, said: “There are two issues which raise the culpability to a higher level.

“You were aware a person was injured and you then left an injured person at the scene.”

Kettley admitted drink-driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to use a tachograph.

He was not charged with causing Mr Mayes’ death because prosecutors accepted he was not responsible for the crash.

He was given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months for failing to stop.

He was also given a curfew, from 7pm until 7am, for three months and was ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.

Kettley, of Porters Avenue, Dagenham, was disqualified from driving for a year and was ordered to pay £165 costs.

A 12-month ban for drink-driving will run at the same time as the other ban, and there was no separate penalty for failing to use a tachograph.