A Range Rover driver who killed a cyclist as he dashed to work after he overslept following a night boozing and snorting drugs has been jailed.
Bar manager George Hacker, 26, was more than 90 minutes late for work when he got behind the wheel of his powerful £30,000 Range Rover Evoque.
As he was driving to work and chatting to a pal on the phone using Bluetooth he drifted onto the opposite carriageway and smashed head-on into cyclist Simon Worthington.
The 35-year-old Barclays Bank data analyst and fitness fanatic was killed instantly in the horror crash which happened at around 10am on February 20 this year.
A court heard Hacker was driving so erratically he carried on driving for another 70-80 yards before finally coming to a halt.
Hacker, of Southam, Warks., was jailed for four-and-a-half years after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Coventry Crown Court on Monday (2/10).
Deputy Judge Richard Griffith-Jones also gave Hacker a concurrent three-month sentence for possessing cocaine, which he had also admitted.
He was also banned from driving for six years and three months.
Prosecutor Matthew Brook said the night before the crash, Hacker had been out drinking with friends, and when he got home he had three whiskies and a line of cocaine.
He said: “In the morning, he was due at work for eight o’clock, but he overslept, and did not leave home until around 9.45am.
“While driving his Range Rover Evoque, he was on his phone via Bluetooth to a friend.
“As he drove along the B4452 Ufton Road near Harbury at just after 10am, he later said, he was distracted by seeing a vehicle in a field which seemed to have accident damage.
“He drifted onto the off-side of the road, and ploughed head-on into Mr Worthington who was cycling in the opposite direction on his bike and had no time to react.
“Hacker continued on the wrong side of the road for another 70-80 years, causing a woman driving in the opposite direction to fear he would hit her as well, before stopping.”
Paramedics dashed to the scene and desperately tried to save Mr Worthington, who was training for a triathlon and about to become a father for the second time, but he died.
Hacker was arrested and was found to have a small amount of cocaine on him.
In a tribute to Mr Worthington, who lived in Leamington Spa, Warks., with his wife Emma, a family statement said: “Simon was a data analyst living in Leamington and working for Barclays Bank.
“He was a keen sportsman and was training for a half iron man triathlon later this year when the collision happened.
“He leaves behind his wife Emma and two young sons. Simon was a loving husband, father and friend. There are no words to describe how much he will be missed.”
