AN ABERGAVENNY man was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment today for causing the death of his friend and serious injury to a woman by dangerous driving.

Jason Lewis, 23, of Dan-y-Bryn, Gilwern, Abergavenny, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard from prosecutor Michael Jones how at 7.45pm on November 29 last year Lewis had been driving along the A4046 Waun y Pound Road when his mobile phone slipped off the console under the brake pedal as he turned on the left hand bend.

Lewis, who was driving a silver Peugeot 106, had friend Thomas Baynton in the front seat next to him and a second friend in the back, when he bent down with his left arm to retrieve the phone, momentarily taking his eyes off the road.

Lewis lost control of the vehicle by over steering when it reached a left hand bend, and his car went over into the oncoming carriage way into oncoming traffic where it hit another car driven by a Mr Webb and his mother who were returning home from hospital.

The court heard how Lewis admitted he had drank three cans of alcohol before the accident but when breathalysed he was under the limit.

The speed of the road was 30mph but Lewis had been driving at 53mph and had misjudged his speed. Lewis was arrested at the scene.

Mr Baynton was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.24pm, aged 21.

A post mortem examination said he died of multiple injuries.

Mr Baynton’s son Leo was born weeks after his death on January 10, 2014.

The back seat passenger of the defendant’s car suffered a broken leg and a blow to the head and now suffers from amnesia.

Rosalind Webb was a front seat passenger of the car driven by her son Mr Webb and sustained serious injuries including a fracture of the sternum and internal bleeding and spent a long period of time in hospital where she had to learn to walk again.

In mitigation Caroline Rees said Lewis had ‘heartfelt and genuine remorse’ for his actions.

“He is a nice young man who made a terrible mistake and the consequences will live with him forever,” she said.

“He is very, very sorry.”

Judge Neil Bidder QC said: “Mr Baynton had his whole life ahead of him. He had a partner who was pregnant with his first child.

“His son will never meet his father.

“It was a crass decision to recover your mobile phone.

“I accept that you are truly remorseful.

“The death of your friend weighs heavily on your conscience and you have suffered a traumatic reaction to the accident.

“This is a tragedy for you but it is a far greater tragedy for Mrs Webb and the family of Mr Bayton.

“It was a grossly avoidable distraction.”

Lewis was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment of which he must serve half, before being released on licence. He will also pay a £120 surcharge on his release from prison and is disqualified from driving for five years and must take an extended driving test thereafter.