A FORMER environmental health officer has been jailed for six years after killing a grandfather in a crash whilst drink-driving.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Stewart Rosoman, 51, was “showing off” his new MG sports car to a friend on a “joy ride”, when he collided with David Waterland’s car on a narrow stretch of road near Milborne St Andrew on the night of May 15 last year.

Mr Waterland, 68, who had recently been told by doctors he had another 15 years of life left after taking steps to improve his health, was killed in the crash while travelling home to Wareham with his wife of 35 years Margaret.

She, Rosoman himself and his friend Frederick Gallow all suffered serious injuries.

Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Peter Johnson told Rosoman his “selfish” actions had caused the death of “a fine man”.

“This was a prolonged and deliberate piece of bad driving while you were unfit to drive through drink,” he said.

He said the defendant’s claim to feel remorse was undermined by his “desperate attempt to evade liability” during the trial, saying the evidence showed “it was clearly your fault”.

Rosoman had been found guilty of causing death by careless driving while unfit to drive.

Prosecutor Rob Welling read to the court a statement from Mrs Waterland in which she said: “The sunshine has gone from my life. I will try to stay strong.”

The court heard that Rosoman, right, of Victoria Road, Blandford, had been drinking at the Hambro Arms pub for several hours on the day of the crash, and he had consumed at least five pints of strong lager.

Mr Welling said Rosoman had then driven Mr Gallow to Milborne St Andrew “on what was effectively a joy ride”, at one point telling him “we just hit 110 miles an hour”.

The crash occurred on the return journey, as Rosoman veered into the middle of the road while taking a corner at speed.

In mitigation, Patrick Mason said the defendant, a father-of-two who has resigned from his role at West Dorset District Council since the trial, had ruined his own life through his actions.

Rosoman was also banned from driving for eight years.