TRIBUTES paid to a talented and caring musician during the sentencing hearing of a careless driver who caused his death painted a portrait of a caring friend and partner who "always strived to do good for others".

Stuart McClung, 36, was killed and three others were injured when a car driven by 41-year-old Bandile Xozumti ploughed through a pub smoking area in Colchester in November 2019.

Xozumti, who admitted a single charge of causing death by careless driving, was sentenced to one year behind bars at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday.

He was banned from driving for two years.

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Much of the hearing was dedicated to hearing of the devastating toll the crash took on Mr McClung's family and friends.

Mr McClung was known to many as the guitarist of the popular Colchester band the New Town Kings.

But he also worked to help others.

His partner Victoria Spall, who was also injured during the crash, told the court: "Stu was someone who was always striving to do good for others, he was working at Essex County Council prior to his death in the social care department and I saw how important helping people was to him.

“He was hoping to begin studies to become a social worker to further this.

“Losing him has not just had a profound impact on my life, but on so many others who have met him. There are still days when it doesn’t feel possible that he’s gone.”

Gazette: Missed - The New Town Kings. Stuart McClung was a guitarist with the band (far right)Missed - The New Town Kings. Stuart McClung was a guitarist with the band (far right)

Following Mr McClung's death, his bandmates said in a statement: "Stu was the best of us. Never in our worst nightmares could we have imagined something like this happening.

"We miss you so much already bro, words will never come close to filling chasm left in our heart and never again will any song sound the same."

Mr McClung's sister Kelly added: "To be told that my only sibling, my brother, my best friend had been taken away from me and will no longer be in my life was the most stressful, emotional and saddest day of my life.

“To not know any reasons as to why this has happened, no answers, no nothing, is very out of this world.

“The emotions were and still are very unreal, raw, and I’ve never felt these emotions in all my life.

“Every time I hear a car going fast, or the squeak of the brakes of a car, it makes me have a panic attack.

“This whole tragedy has torn my life apart.”

Judge Timothy Walker said: “Stuart McClung was plainly a very loved and well-liked person, he was described as having been a fun, loving individual, a joker and the life and soul of the party.

“He was also plainly a caring man.

“Unsurprisingly friends and family have been left severely impacted by his loss."

Pubgoers Ian Winter and Carl Joyner also suffered severe injuries when Xozumti's car smashed through the outdoor smoking area.

The court heard Mr Joyner, who suffered head injuries, a dislocated right arm and shoulder and nerve damage, had just given his seat up to Mr McClung before the crash.

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement bravely read aloud by Mr Joyner in court, he said: “Since the accident, I feel like a different person.

“I suffer every day with guilt, through no fault of my own because if the man who lost his life wasn’t sitting in that chair, it would have been me as I got up to give him the seat so he could sit next to his girlfriend.

“I now must live with it for the rest of my life, as much as I know it’s not my fault it still doesn’t make it any easier."

He told the court he had faced a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder after the crash, adding: "I still struggle with simple tasks, and walking and being on my feet for too long.

“I struggle to leave my house by myself just to walk to the shops round the corner."