Mother's drink-drive death plea

David Foulkes had been a passenger in the car that crashed

A mother whose son was killed by his drink-driving friend has warned others never to get into a vehicle driven by someone over the limit.

Martin Bielicky, 29, of Shotton, Flintshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving while he was three times over the drink-drive limit.

Bielicky, who was giving David Foulkes, 23, of Mancot, a lift, was jailed for six years at Mold Crown Court.

Speaking after the case, Lynne Foulkes said she wanted lessons learned.

"I don't want my son's death to be in vain," she said.

"People go out and have a good time and they don't think of the dangers."

It is so very, very hard to think that David is never going to come home... I want people to learn from this Lynne Foulkes, mother

Her son had always promised that if he could not get a taxi then he would ring her.

But one night in August he got into a car driven by his friend and was killed when Bielecky lost control on a slight bend, struck a wall, a telegraph pole and a tree. Mr Foulkes was declared dead at the scene.

Sentencing Bielecky, who is originally from Slovakia, Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told him: "You killed your friend David Foulkes and you bear responsibility for the tragic and pointless waste of a life."

The prosection said Bielecky's car was being driven at between 55mph and 67mph in a 30mph area when the defendant lost control on a slight curve in the road and crashed in Hawarden at about 4.45am.

Neighbours found the defendant still in the driving seat of the badly damaged car with Mr Foulkes slumped, lying across him. There was a strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle.

At 8.45am the defendant was found to have an alcohol reading of 184mg, compared to the legal limit of 80mg. But a back calculation showed that the level would have been between 220mg and 270mg at the time of the accident.

Football memorial

Bielecky, who had been a driver for 11 years and working in the UK for four years, was said by defending barrister Andrew Green to be deeply and profoundly sorry for what he had done.

Speaking after the case, Mrs Foulkes announced a football memorial cup competition will be held in the local football league on Deeside in memory of her son, who was a keen sportsman.

The proceeds will go towards CADD, the campaign against drinking and driving, which provides support for the families of victims killed and injured by drunk or drugged motorists.

She said life would never be the same again for her and her other children Mark and Hayley.

"I want everyone to realise that it is not just an offence for the driver but it is something that affects everyone, passengers in their cars and other road users," she said.

"It is so very, very hard to think that David is never going to come home. I want people to learn from this.

"This could and should have been avoided. Martin was supposed to be his friend."