A DRIVER who killed a cyclist in a hit-and-run has been jailed.

Luke Headech, 25, (pictured) of Wickham Avenue, Bexhill, was driving along the A259 Grand Parade, St Leonards, in the early hours of New Year's Day 2015 when he collided with cyclist Jamie Murray, knocking him almost 50 metres along the road. He died at the scene.

Headech initially pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and failing to stop at the scene of an accident, but not guilty to the charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

The court heard that Headech had initially tried to blame someone else for Jamie's death by saying a thief had been driving his car. An innocent man was arrested but later released.

During proceedings Headech changed his plea on a death by dangerous driving charge to guilty but contested a drink-driving charge. However his explanation was later dismissed.

Headech was jailed at Lewes Crown Court today for a total of seven years: six years and three months for causing death by dangerous driving and nine months for perverting the course of justice. The offence of causing death by careless driving was ordered to lie on file. He was also banned from driving for five years and will have to take an extended retest.

Jamie's mother, Angela Miles, said after the trial: "Justice seems to have been done, but Jamie's life was worth more than seven years. The fact is that Luke Headech can come out in less than four years. My family and I now have to continue our lives without Jamie."