Carl Bostock, 21, was found to have traces of cocaine, cannabis and diazapam in his blood after the collision which killed 58-year-old widower, Peter Riley.

Warehouseman Bostock, of Stuart Avenue, Hindley, admitted that he regularly spent £400 a month on his cocaine habit and admitted taking cocaine the day before the tragedy, at 11.25pm on March 27.

Experts could not say when he had last taken drugs or if they had impaired his driving. Jailing him for three years, Judge David Aubrey, QC, issued a warning to motorists not to drive after taking drugs.

He said: "It must be understood that those who use drugs cannot go anywhere near the wheel of a motor car.

"While forensic experts may not themselves be able to state that the presence of a drug demonstrates impairment, common sense does so dictate."

A family torn apart - see page two (click next page at bottom of this article)

He said that the slogan not to drink and drive should also emphasise not to drive and take drugs.

Judge Aubrey told Bostock: "Not only were you impaired in consequence of the consumption of drugs, you were driving in excess of the speed limit. Speed can kill as you now readily appreciate."

Liverpool Crown Court heard that after his arrest Bostock and friends put remarks on his Facebook site which upset the victim's family.

Judge Aubrey said he disregarded the remarks, but said he was concerned about whether Bostock appreciated the enormity of what he had done and its consequences on the whole family.

Bostock, who had admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs, was also banned from driving for four years.

Members of the victim's close family sat in the public gallery and the judge told Bostock that his driving had devastated the family.

He added: "You have caused that family insurmountable grief.
"No term of imprisonment, whatever its duration can, nor will, reconcile the bereaved family with their loss or cure their grief."

Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, said that Mr Riley, an agency worker, was crossing Leigh bridge in St Helens Road, Leigh, on his way to his nearby home when he was hit by Bostock's Ford Escort.

He said: "He was thrown over the car and sustained severe injuries."

Investigations showed that Bostock had been travelling through the built-up area at 47mph before the collision. At the time of impact he had been doing between 33 to 40mph on the road, which has a 30mph limit.

Geoffrey Whelan, defending, said that Bostock had no previous convictions and was genuinely remorseful.

He said that a remark by Bostock on his Facebook page last month: "Court on Monday, oop not" was just a youthful way of indicating he was dreading it. He said he condemned flippant remarks by his friends and he had not intended to cause hurt.

The headline on a previous article regarding Carl Bostock incorrectly read 'Drunk driver admits killing a loving grandad.' We have been asked to point out that he was under the influence of drugs and not drink. He was initially charged with causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.