A SOUTHAMPTON driver who hours after taking amphetamine killed an Alresford milkman was today jailed for three years.

Gregory Locke drove his seven-and-a-half tonne milk lorry into Allan Knight as he stood at his milk float in Winchester Road, Alresford, early in the morning of July 3 last year.

Mr Knight, 53, of Lime Close, Colden Common, died instantly from multiple injuries, Winchester Crown Court was told.

Locke, 33, of Cox's Drive, Sholing, admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.

He had denied causing death by dangerous driving, and the prosecution accepted that plea.

Janice Brennan, prosecuting, said: "Allan Knight was on his usual early morning round in Winchester Road, Alresford, on July 3 last year. He was either loading or unloading milk bottles.

"For him it was a perfectly normal start to the day and he would have had no warning that his life was about to end.

"The defendant was in his delivery lorry on his usual round. Unbeknown to colleagues he had taken drugs the night before, a tab of speed at 8pm that night. Analysis showed he had also taken cocaine.

"These drugs impair one's ability to drive. It is not known if Locke failed to see Mr Knight or if the stimulant effect had worn off and he was drowsy or if the stimulant led to increased risk-taking and diminished attention."

Mitigating, Simon Morgan said Locke was a man of previous good character.

"He has expressed considerable remorse and bitter regret. He knows he faces immediate imprisonment. It is a prospect he dreads. He wishes he could turn the clock back. Sadly he can't."

Sentencing, Judge Patrick Hooton, said: "There's no sentence I could pass that could undo the devastating harm you have done to the family of that man you killed with your lorry.

"I can't help but take into account the fact that you had taken drugs the night before.

"If anyone wanted to see an example of the effects of these substances on a person's judgement and behaviour this is such a case. You know there is no alternative to imprisonment."

The judge also disqualified Locke from driving for five years and ordered him to take a test before getting his licence back.

See tomorrow's Daily Echo for the full story