A MOTORIST who caused the death of his friend after driving him home from a pub while almost three times over the drink-drive limit was jailed for four years yesterday.

James Hardman, 30, suffered cuts and bruises in the smash when his Vauxhall Cavalier crashed with a Vauxhall Zafira on the B8313, near Stanley, County Durham.

But front seat passenger Graham Johnson, 32, was killed in the crash, last July.

Hardman, of South Moor, Stanley, admitted causing death by careless driving while over the legal limit at an earlier hearing, at Newcastle Crown Court.

Yesterday, he wept as Christopher Williams, prosecuting, told the court how the accident happened as Hardman drove a group of men home from the Johns Castle Inn, Craghead.

Mr Williams said: "The defendant had been drinking in the pub before the journey and had some drink earlier that day as well, before going to the pub."

The crash happened as Hardman approached the brow of a hump-backed bridge. He lost control, hit a barrier and bounced into the path of an oncoming vehicle, driven by Carol Harrison.

Mr Johnson died at the scene from multiple injuries. Mrs Harrison and her father were injured, along with two passengers in Mr Hardman's car.

John Lowe, mitigating, said: "He wishes he could turn the clock back in terms of the devastation brought upon Mr Johnson's family.

"He shows genuine remorse."

Judge Peter Armstrong, who also banned Hardman from driving for five years, said: "You have to live with the knowledge you have taken the life of a young man."