Reigate hit-and-run soldier death driver jailed

Ben Regan, pictured with his father Jim, was pronounced dead at the scene

A hit and run driver who killed a soldier in a crash has been jailed.

Jake Polmeer was ordered to serve a 21-month term after Ben Regan, 20, who served with the Coldstream Guards, died in Reigate, Surrey, on 20 June 2015.

Polmeer, 27, of Bushfield Drive, Redhill, was convicted on Friday at Winchester Crown Court of causing death by careless driving.

Mr Regan was "knocked out of his shoes" and sent 50ft (15m) into the air by Polmeer's Mini Cooper, the trial heard.

During the sentencing hearing, Mr Regan's father Jim told the court he brought Ben up alone after his son's mother died when he was 13.

Ben Regan had just left Joules bar when he was hit by the Mini Cooper driven by Jake Polmeer

He said: "I feel cheated, left wondering how I am going to cope with the tragedy I was dealt with. Our sentence is a life sentence."

Mr Regan's step-sister, Sam Murray, told the court: "Losing my brother and my best friend has left me feeling like my life has ended and in some ways I wish it had."

The trial heard how Polmeer's car was most likely to have been travelling between 40-45mph when the accident happened at about 02:00 BST.

Polmeer had denied causing death by dangerous driving, but pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it as well as driving without insurance.

'Cynical manipulation'

Sentencing Polmeer, Judge Keith Cutler said Mr Regan had a promising career in the Army with the potential of serving with special forces.

He said Polmeer's failure to stop had been interpreted by Mr Regan's family as a "cynical manipulation" of the law to hide the possibility he was over the alcohol limit, but he said this had not been proven by the court.

The judge added: "I have heard a great tribute to the life of Ben Regan, a real glowing testament to that young man who had a promising life well-lived, which was tragically cut short.

"Nothing can be done to repair that loss."