Live court updates as dad who killed girlfriend in horror crash sentenced

"You sought to blame everybody, including your own barrister"

The judge continues: "On the 5th of July just before 7 o'clock in the morning you were driving a Ford Fiesta vehicle. It was not your vehicle. The front seat passenger was your girlfriend, the deceased.

You had been taking cocaine, cannabis and alcohol. You left your home and went to the home of your former partner Gemma Bainbridge. She, Michelle Ahterton, caused some damage to a window.

It was an unwise act, but I am satisfied it was a joint venture and any domestic tension cannot explain, excuse or lessen your culpability for that which occurred. "The court is concerned with your driving. Your journey from Gemma Bainbridge's home took you onto Broad Oak Road.

Only you in fact know precisely where you were intending to go. The road conditions were wet and slippery and you were in a 30mph zone. You were travelling between 52 and 54mph as you approached a tight bend.

There is a road sign warning users to reduce speed and a marking on the road stating slow. In any event, you are familiar with that road. "You ignored those warnings and steered right and entered the opposite lane into a head-on collision near to the junction with Delta Road and struck a Mercedes bin truck.

In my judgement you were driving at a grossly excessive speed in consequence of the weather and road conditions. "Your speed when you were 73 metres away was between 52 and 54mph. When 44 metres away, somewhere between 57 and 56mph.

Having passed an Iveco truck coming in the opposite direction, which I am satisfied you had not struck, and just before the collision you registered a speed of 42mph before a sudden right hand steering was applied, entering the collision. "I am satisfied that the deceased had not contributed in any way to the collision and she had not told you to put your foot down because a car was following you. There was no following car.

You were seeking to dishonestly blame the deceased for the collision.

You sought to blame everybody, including your own barrister.

I do not hold that against you, but it provides you with no mitigation."