The girlfriend of a young Hampshire policeman who died when his car smashed into a tree has paid an emotional tribute to the man she loved.

PC James Drew, who was 27, lost control of his Skoda Octavia on the A31 Alresford Road, near Winchester, when he was on his way to work.

His girlfriend Nicki Reade has remembered the popular police officer who couldn’t go anywhere without meeting someone he knew.

Nicki, 25, told the Daily Echo: “He knew so many people, more than I realised – hundreds and hundreds.

“There was never anywhere we went where we didn’t see someone he knew. His local pub was The Monks Brook in Chandler’s Ford and he always knew people in there.

“I have had messages from people I have never even heard of, everyone’s been really lovely.

“I just want to say that I am glad I took the risk with him, it was worth every second.”

James and Nicki, who works in the transport department of a commercial air ventilation company, were both former pupils of The Toynbee School in Chandler’s Ford.

Nicki, of Skipton Road in Chandler’s Ford, said: “I had known him for years. We were at school together although he was a few years above me. He also knew my dad through car clubs – they were both members of the Hampshire RS Owners’ Club.

“We hadn’t been together long – about six months – but it was quite intense. Our families got on and socialised together.

“He was into bikes and cars, he owned a Kawasaki ZX10 sports motorbike, and was into socialising and music.

“He had been a policeman for about five years and was working as a fast response driver in the Whitehill and Bordon areas. He loved his job and was very good at it because of the sort of person he was. He was very approachable and he would do anything for anyone.”

James was on his way to work when his car left the road and hit a tree in the garden of a house.

As reported in the Daily Echo, flooding on the A31 by the Percy Hobbs pub, near the scene of the crash, was highlighted last year.

Hampshire county councillor Jackie Porter said: “I feel devastated that this might have contributed. There’s often standing water on the road.”

Anyone who witnessed the crash, between 6am and 7am on Thursday, should call Cosham roads unit on 0845 045 4545.

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