A DRINK-DRIVER who killed a motorcyclist when more than twice the legal limit is today beginning a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence.

Andrew King, 29, was also banned from the wheel for seven years.

It was revealed at Winchester Crown Court that King had been disqualified for 22 months in 1997 for an earlier drink-driving offence.

Yesterday, he admitted causing the death of Nicholas Reedman, 38, a married man from Broughton, near Romsey, by driving without due care and attention on April 21.

Mr Reedman's widow was in court to hear the penalty meted out. She declined to comment afterwards.

King had been drinking steadily throughout the afternoon, the court was told. He had visited three pubs, drinking four pints of lager and a bottle of beer.

He then left friends in the Malthouse Inn, in Stockbridge Road, Timsbury, to head back to Romsey along the A3057 in his Ford Escort.

But he lost control, veering on to the wrong side of the road and towards Mr Reedman's Honda motorbike, which was coming the other way.

Mr Reedman flung himself off his bike to try to avoid being hit but was still run down. Peter Spink, prosecuting, said it was a common technique among experienced bikers but added: "There was insufficient warning for it to be successful this time.''

Last month King completed a four-month rehabilitation course at St Dismas Detoxification Centre in Southampton.

Peter Henry, in mitigation, said King, of Field Close in Romsey, had tried to mend his ways and had shown "very considerable" remorse.

"It's quite clear he has been suffering from depression and he has made two attempts on his life.''

But Judge Robert Pryor, QC, said prison was inevitable: "This was as an absolute tragedy for the victim and his family.''