Drug driver jailed for five years over crash death

Martin Cunliffe was under the influence of ecstasy when his car hit Gerry Smith's van, Cheshire Police said

A driver who killed a grandfather in a crash while under the influence of ecstasy has been jailed for five years.

Martin Cunliffe's Fiat 500 hit a Ford van driven by Gerry Smith on 12 August 2020 on School Lane in Warmingham, near Crewe.

Mr Smith died at the scene and his family said "our lives have fallen apart since".

At Chester Crown Court, Cunliffe was also banned from driving for seven years.

The 37-year-old, of Barnton, near Northwich, Cheshire, was convicted in April after a trial.

He was found guilty of causing death by driving without due care and attention, with his MDMA use revealed by blood tests, Cheshire Police said.

Martin Cunliffe's car was involved in the crash with Gerry Smith's van on School Lane, in Warmingham

Mr Smith, 50, from Middlewich, Cheshire, left behind a wife, seven children and 24 grandchildren and in a statement his family said they were "absolutely devastated".

Witnesses said Cunliffe was travelling well above the speed limit of 30mph (48kph) at the time of the crash, police said.

Analysis of his blood showed a level of 392 microgrammes of MDMA per litre of blood.

The legal limit is 10 microgrammes, according to drug driving legislation, which sets levels to avoid claims of accidental exposure.