A FAMILY was united in grief and anger yesterday after a Belgian lorry driver was jailed for six years for killing a much-loved Bere Regis man.

Father-of-two Dennis Watts, 56, died from head injuries after alcohol-fuelled Didier Gillis ploughed into his tractor on April 7 this year.

While an army major and off-duty paramedic rushed to Mr Watts’ aid, Gillis fled, leaving his dying victim on the A35 Puddletown by-pass.

Gillis, from East Flanders, admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report the accident.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Stuart Ellacott said Gillis had been travelling from Cornwall when tragedy struck.

“The effects were catastrophic. The tractor lifted up on its back wheels, tipping over. Mr Watts landed head-first in the road,” he said.

After hitching a lift, Gillis made his way to Dorchester railway station where he was arrested.

A breath test showed he had been three times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the crash and four times over when he left St Austell.

After drinking the night before, Gillis, who has two previous drink-drive convictions, admitted downing a can of strong lager that morning. Police found empty beer cans in his cab.

Defending, Nigel Mitchell said Gillis hadn’t eaten properly since leaving Belgium, adding: “He failed to appreciate the speed of the tractor.

“He thought he had time to reach into his fridge – he didn’t. That act has had tragic consequences. It was a momentary lapse and he panicked.”

Sentencing Gillis, Judge John Harrow told him: “You had been driving for about three hours before this terrible event. No doubt, due to the alcoholic haze, you failed to see Mr Watts.

“To compound events you left the scene in a determined and callous attempt to evade responsibility for your actions.”