Drink-driver jailed for crashing and killing friend after reaching speeds of 100mph

A drink-driver who was filmed at speeds of 100mph before crashing and killing his friend has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Meirion Roberts, 26, had been drinking at a work Christmas party with colleague Lewis Morgan on the afternoon of December 4 2020.

Despite having arranged a lift home from the pub in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Roberts decided to drive to 20-year-old Mr Morgan's house.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Roberts had drunk five pints of cider at the party followed by a can of lager when he got to his friend's home in Carmarthen.

The two men, who worked together at a building firm, then left, with Mr Morgan telling his brother they were "going for a spin".

Mr Morgan filmed Roberts playing loud music and drinking from a bottle of lager while driving at 100mph on a dual carriageway. He then sent the clip to friends via Snapchat.

• Crown Prosecution Service Snapchat footage has been released showing Meirion Roberts drinking whilst driving

Minutes later the fatal crash happened on a 30mph minor road in the village of Blaenau, the court heard.

Roberts was driving between 40mph and 50mph when he lost control on a bend and hit a telegraph pole and wall - with the Vauxhall Corsa ending up on its roof.

Mr Morgan suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.

Roberts was also injured and was taken to hospital. He was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Tests showed that Roberts had a blood alcohol level of at least 101mg per 100ml of blood. The legal drink drive limit is 80mg per 100ml.

Carina Hughes, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution submits this encompassed driving that involved a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road, commencing when he got into the car having consumed alcohol.

"He also drove while under the influence of alcohol, drove while consuming alcohol, drove in excess of speed limits, including at one stage at 100mph and at another stage in excess of the 30mph speed limit for over a mile, all while participating in videos and listening to loud music.

"The prosecution say that level of poor driving shows a disregard for the great danger he posed to other road users."

Roberts, from Ammanford, had denied causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted by a jury.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Morgan's sister, Natalie, said: "Losing Lewis has been the most painful experience of mine and my family's life.

"The sadness I face every day I cannot put into words. The first thought I wake with in the morning, my last thought at night and every moment in between, I think of Lewis."

David Leathley, defending, said Roberts had made a mistake in deciding to drive.

"Notwithstanding the awful consequences of that social gathering and the moral turpitude which was going to bedevil the entire proceedings, Mr Roberts was not there for all-out wickedness, he was there out of good grace and sociability to his fellow man," he said.

"It is a case of moral turpitude because the experience of society is that the consumption of any drink, however small, while putting yourself behind the wheel is crass, dangerous and morally and legally and reprehensible.

"From that point Mr Roberts goes from being an altruistic, affable, friendly, sociable individual - because of his moral turpitude and his decision to drive - into a killer."

Jailing the father-of-one, Judge Christopher Vosper QC said: "You deliberately drove when you had consumed alcohol in such a quantity that you knew that you were over the limit for driving.

"You could have got home by the lift you had arranged but you deliberately avoided that lift and chose instead to drive in the opposite direction.

"Your purpose was to continue socialising and drinking."

The judge said Roberts' speed and alcohol consumption had caused him to lose control on the bend and crash.

He said: "It is right that the driving on the A48 was not the direct cause of the death of Lewis Morgan, however, it seems to me that driving at 100mph on what is motorway standard road may well in fact be less dangerous than driving at speeds of 50mph on a B-road, which is restricted and has bends on it of the sort you failed to negotiate.

"I accept you are genuinely remorseful for what occurred and the guilt you feel bears heavily upon you and will always bear heavily upon you.

"I have to acknowledge too that no sentence the court can impose will reduce the grief which Lewis Morgan's family feel and will continue to feel at his loss."

Roberts was also banned from driving for six years and nine months.