RELATIVES of a man who died in a car crash broke down in court as the driver who caused the accident was sentenced to eight years in jail.

Gurpreet Dhillon was driving a green Jaguar XK convertible, when he drove across a roundabout, off Centenary Way, in Clacton, at about 1.15am, on September 27 last year.

The car flew into the air before overturning, leaving the 29-year-old passenger, Tony Proctor, with serious injuries.

The married father-of-two, of Birchwood Close, Corringham, died two days later in hospital.

Dhillon, who has a previous conviction for drink-driving, was unhurt.

Appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, Dhillon pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Samantha Leigh, prosecuting, told the court emergency services noticed Dhillon’s speech was “slurred”.

They could smell alcohol on his breath, but he refused to have a blood sample taken.

Ms Leigh said: “He was uncooperative and unhelpful when they tried to find out what had happened.

“Paramedics asked him if he was the passenger. He hesitated and then said he was.”

David Pickersgill, mitigating, told the court Dhillon, 29, of Langley Road, Slough, had spiralled into a state of depression after the incident.

He said: “He wasn’t facing up to what had happened. When we finally caught up with each other, it was clear he wished to accept responsibility for his actions.”

Summing up the case, Judge Anthony Goldstaub told Dhillon: “Mr Proctor’s widow had to stand by while his life support machine was switched off.

“She had the agonising experience of having to decide whether his young children should be brought in to say goodbye to him.

“In the aftermath of the crash, you were asked to provide a blood sample for analysis, but you refused.

“The reason, I am satisfied, was because you had excess alcohol in your system and at the same time you had been taking cocaine.”

Dhillon was sentenced to eight years in prison and was disqualified from driving for five years.