TRIBUTES have been paid to a "wonderfully big-hearted man" who was killed by a drink driver.

Colin Lazenbury, 54 and from Bournemouth, died in hospital from injuries caused in a collision on May 26, 2019.

Mr Lazenbury was riding a Yamaha motorcycle in West Cliff Road at around 8.30am when he was hit by a Volkswagen Sharan being driven by Dumitru Radu.

Radu, aged 27, failed to stop at the junction of West Overcliff Drive and West Cliff Road, emerging into the path of the motorcycle and causing the collision. Mr Lazenbury then collided with a Peugeot 307.

Mr Lazenbury was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died on July 14, 2019.

Radu was arrested at the scene and a sample of breath taken from him gave a reading of 61 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.

He was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday, October 18, having previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Robert Pawson jailed Radu for five-and-a-half years.

In a statement after the hearing, Mr Lazenbury's family said: "The loss of Colin has been unbearably tragic.

"It is difficult to describe the pain and heartbreak we all continue to feel as a family.

"Colin was a wonderfully big-hearted man, with a zest for life and an infectious sense of humour.

"He was kind, loving, loyal, selfless, caring and had endless patience. He was an absolute joy to be around and we all feel so blessed to have shared his life with him.

"He was always willing to help, there wasn’t much that was too much trouble for him.

"He was a perfectionist, whether it was his work or his home life, he always strived to achieve the very best he could do.

"Colin was passionate about his motorcycles and his rugby. He also loved to chat, he had this amazing ability to adapt to all social situations with ease. There weren’t many local places he could go without someone knowing him. He really was a big beautiful social butterfly.

"Our lives seem so much darker these days and certainly more silent, the love he gave us all is something we will forever hold in our hearts."

Sergeant Nikki Burt, of the traffic unit, said: “I am pleased that we have finally been able to ensure Dumitru Radu has been held accountable for his offending behaviour on the morning of Sunday 26 May 2019, which has left Mr Lazenbury’s family and loved ones devastated.

“It must have added to their sense of loss knowing the man who was responsible remained at large and I hope this case demonstrates that we will work with partners across international borders to ensure offenders do not escape without punishment.

“This case is yet another sad reminder of the truly awful consequences of someone getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs and we will continue to work to do all we can to make sure those who are responsible face justice.”