Driver jailed for landlord's death

Driver jailed for landlord's death

The man appeared before Swansea Crown Court

A Dutchman who was nearly twice the drink-drive limit killed a landlord after swerving onto the wrong side of the road, believing he was on the Continent.

Piet Minaard, 45, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to five years in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday.

Minaard had been drinking with friends in Llanrhidian on 15 October last year before driving his Mercedes along North Gower Road towards Swansea.

His car collided head on with a Volkswagen Golf, killing the driver Leonard O'Driscoll who suffered severe lacerations to his heart due to rib damage.

Swansea Crown Court

Mr O'Driscoll, landlord of the King Arthur pub in Reynoldston, was travelling along the road with his wife Kim, who suffered severe bruising and whiplash.

His 15-year old daughter Laura, who was also in the car, received hospital treatment for a fractured wrist and thigh bone.

Minaard had nearly double the legal limit of alcohol in his blood when he was tested three hours after the accident.

Judge Michael Burr was told that Minaard saw a car coming in the opposite direction and its headlights blinded him.

Drugs

He said he made a "stupid continental mistake" and swerved into the right hand side of the road.

Minaard received other concurrent sentences, five months for driving under the influence of alcohol, three months for possession of one-and-a-half ecstasy tablets and a month for possessing a small amount of cannabis.

Tests proved he had only consumed alcohol that night.

He was also banned from driving in the UK for seven years.