A MAN has been jailed after his careless actions behind the wheel resulted in the death of a much-loved pensioner.
Dale Hilton, of Heol Kenyon in Johnstown, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday morning for sentence.
The 42-year-old was found guilty after a trial of causing the death of George Ian Stevenson by careless driving on March 2, 2022.
Jurors heard he'd been driving a Citroen C2 whilst over the limit for benzoylecgonine (a cocaine breakdown product referred to as BZE.)
Mr Stevenson, 86, was knocked over in Johnstown by a “glancing” blow from the car and lay for hours on a cold and wet road waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
Tragically, he died after going into cardiac arrest.
At the sentencing hearing John Philpotts, prosecuting, read the statement of the victim's daughter, Julie Davies.
She said Mr Stevenson had been a much-loved dad, husband and grandad, adding: "His death has left a huge void."
Following the collision, Hilton's blood was tested.
He was found to be almost five times the limit for BZE and accepted at the trial that he'd taken cocaine a few days beforehand.
In her statement, Ms Davies also spoke of her family's shock at learning Hilton had gone on after the death of her father to commit a similar drug-drive related offence.
Brendan O’Leary, defending, said: "This is a tragic case where no sentence of imprisonment will bring Mr Stevenson back.
"I submit on behalf of Mr Hilton that there is remorse on his behalf - and that's a difficult submission, I accept.
"He was unhappy with the Jury's verdict and maintained his position, as he did through the trial.
"There isn't a day where he doesn't think of Mr Stevenson, and Your Honour may raise an eyebrow as to those submissions due to the offending post-incident.
"But that was a spate, a pattern, of offending which was at a time when he was going through a particularly low point in his life."
Mr O’Leary said his client had "a tragic childhood" and has complex PTSD, as well as ADHD.
The aftermath of lockdown and covid was "extremely significant on him," he added - and that led to him self-medicating with cocaine in order to "balance out his brain."
"There was no evidence of impairment in his driving or behaviour at the scene," he continued.
"And his primary mitigation is the manner in which he behaved at the scene of the incident.
"He acted, in my submission, impeccably.
"He quickly blocked off the side of the road where Mr Stevenson Lay, he assisted him while on the ground, he called Mr Stevenson's wife."
"The level of drugs in your system was over four times what is considered permissible.
"And it's clear you would have had this victim in your sight for a very long time. It's inexplicable that you didn't avoid him.
"This thoroughly avoidable tragedy has left a huge void in a family."
Judge Parry did recognise the defendant's attempts to help the victim following the collision.
He continued: "I compliment the neighbours who came out with hot water bottles and blankets to help, while the ambulance service took a wholly unacceptable period of hours to arrive.
"I commend two off-duty paramedics who happened to pass and saw the need for help.
"They sat on the wet floor for hours comforting your victim and they deserve the highest compliment.
"We have heard expert evidence; the ambulance did take a long time to arrive but we can't say whether that long period would have had an effect on the passing of your victim."
Judge Parry jailed Hilton for a total of four years and banned him from driving for five years (in effect a three year ban to commence when he is eligible for release from prison on licence at the half-way point of the sentence).
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