A DRUNK driver who killed his best friend in a car accident has been jailed for three years.

Publican Robert Boots was more than twice the legal limit when he got behind the wheel, fearing his friend, David Gill, was in a worse condition than he was to drive.

The pair, friends for more than 18 years, had been drinking at pubs in Seaford before the crash on June 12 last year, Lewes Crown Court was told.

When they could not get through to a cab firm from the White Lion, in Claremont Road, Mr Gill, 32, said he would drive.

But Boots, who had twice been his friend's best man, offered to give him a lift to his East Dean home believing hewas the more sober of the pair.

Boots, 34, lost control and overturned his BMW on the A259 near his home in Deanside, trapping Mr Gill and leaving him with severe head injuries.

He died on his way to hospital.

Joanna Cutts, prosecuting, told the court that Boots said to police: "I've killed him. I've killed my best mate.

"It's one of those stupid idiot things we know we shouldn't have done and I can't believe he has gone."

The court was told that Boots had 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Boots, of the Old Boot pub in Seaford High Street, admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention.

The court was told that in 1987 he was banned from driving for six months for driving with excess alcohol.

Paul Reid, defending, said: "His best friend is dead and he has to live with that for the rest of his life.

"In the pub they tried to phone for a taxi but the line was engaged. Mr Boots was seeking to stop Mr Gill from driving his van because he was further over the limit than himself."

Judge Richard Brown jailed Boots for three years and disqualified him from driving for five years.

Mr Gill, who lived in Vale Road, Seaford, had one child with his Thai wife.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.