A motorist with five drink-drive convictions has been jailed for mowing down a father while three times over the limit.

John Lee, who also had six offences of driving while disqualified, was serving a ten-year driving ban when he killed Tony Stevens.

Now Mr Stevens' tearful widow Julia has spoken out against Lee, who was jailed for seven years.

Mrs Stevens, 51, said motorist Lee should have received the maximum ten-year sentence.

On Father's Day, Lee's Ford Sierra careered across the wrong side of Nevendon Road, Wickford, and smashed head-on into Mr Stevens' Astra van.

Mrs Stevens, brushing aside the tears, said after the case at Basildon Crown Court: "I thought the other driver deserved the maximum sentence, although I suppose seven years is a long time.

"It means he will not be on the road for a few years, putting other people at risk.

"But I have lost a lovely husband who was enjoying life to the full. We were married for 25 years, but had known each other longer.

"He was a wonderful man and I don' know what will happen to me now that I've lost him. I am still haunted by his death."

Mr Stevens was returning from wind-surfing when his van was struck by Lee's car on June 20 this year.

Mr Stevens, a 46-year-old BT engineer, died instantly. Lee, 37, suffered multiple injuries and spent time in hospital, but has virtually made a full recovery.

Apart from the prison term, Lee, of Meadow Lane, Wickford, received a fresh ten-year driving ban and must take an extended test when he becomes eligible to drive again.

Lindsey Rose, prosecuting, told the court that Lee was seen driving at about 40mph and "drifting" from one side of the road to the other.

Miss Rose said that after the crash, in which both vehicles were wrecked, Lee made matters worse by swearing at ambulance crews.

Three days later he told police he had been drinking for 24 hours before the accident, and had no recollection of the tragedy.

He claimed he heard a bang and in the next moment he was waking up in hospital.

His barrister Hugo Keith said Lee showed courage in pleading guilty and took responsibility for causing Mr Stevens' death.

Mr Keith said Lee apologised to the victim's family who live in Swanbourne Close, Hornchurch, and for his reprehensible behaviour towards the paramedics.

His problem, added Mr Keith, was drink. Because of alcohol he was unable to lead a normal life and had not worked properly for many years.

Lee, who cannot read or write, lived as an itinerant. At the time of the crash he was staying in his father's caravan at Wickford.

The barrister claimed that Lee, a diabetic, probably did not take his normal dose of insulin which may have caused the accident and also account for his behaviour afterwards.

Mr Keith went on: "The defendant, while full of remorse, rarely sleeps at night because he has Mr Stevens' death on his mind."

Lee admitted causing death by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was not charged with drink-driving because it was the lesser of the first charge.

(Right) Tony Stevens - killed by a drunk driver

Carnage - the two vehicles were wrecked in the death crash

Picture:MIKE NEVILLE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.