Driver jailed over diver's road death in Hampshire

Gavin Hustler-Brown was a promising international-standard diver

A man who admitted the road death of an elite pool diver in Hampshire has been jailed for five years.

Lukasz Banasik, then 23, admitted causing death by dangerous driving in Southampton in April 2007 after being extradited from his native Poland.

His car hit Southampton Solent University student Gavin Hustler-Brown, 22, of Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Banasik fled the scene and left for Poland. He appeared in court after a European arrest warrant was executed.

Gavin had a future but Mr Banasik took that away from him and us Christine Hustler-Brown

Southampton Crown Court heard previously that Mr Hustler-Brown, a promising international-standard diver, died after being struck by a Vauxhall Astra driven by Banasik near the Hobbit Pub in Bevois Valley Road on 27 April.

The first-year criminology student had the potential to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the court heard.

A police witness statement from his mother Christine Hustler-Brown read: "Gavin had everything to live for.

"He was a beautiful boy, a son, a grandson, nephew, cousin [and] friend.

"He had a future but Mr Banasik took that away from him and us."

Insp Alan Peacock, from Hampshire Police, said Gavin died on a night out with his friends.

"This case has taken almost three years to come to a conclusion," he said.

"The five-year sentence reflects the serious view the court took of the offence and the difficulties we had getting him [Banasik] back to Hampshire."

He added that Banasik purchased the Vauxhall Astra for £100.

Banasik also pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance and driving without a licence when he appeared at court on 23 December 2009.