A 'DREADFUL' driver who caused a fatal collision on Dorset's A31 has been jailed for five years and eight months.

Claire Hooper-Brown told Dorchester Crown Court how her and seven-year-older Josie's lives had been 'ruined' by the death of her husband Michael Brown.

She was addressing the court at the sentencing of Basanta Thapa, who admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Thapa, aged 29, also admitted causing serious injury to Mrs Hooper-Brown and daughter Josie in the collision on the A31 near Winterborne Zelston shortly before 6pm on March 24.

The court was told Thapa, of Anvil Crescent, Taunton, was travelling on the A31 westbound and was described by fellow motorists travelling in the same direction as moving out into the opposing carriageway as if to overtake but having to move back due to oncoming traffic.

He was then seen to overtake a lorry on the brow of a hill in an area with a solid white preventing overtaking.

Other drivers said they were 'horrified' to see him carry out the move and one called it the 'most dangerous manoeuvre I have ever seen'.

Sadie Rizzo, prosecuting, said 43-year-old Mr Brown and his family were travelling in the opposite direction and as they came over the brow of the hill collided with Thapa's vehicle, which was on the wrong side of the road.

She said: “There was no time for Mr Brown to take avoiding action.”

Mr Brown suffered multiple injuries and died as a result.

His wife sustained a severe laceration to her forehead that has required regular further treatment and will leave a permanent scar, while she also suffered extensive bruising and had problems with her eyesight and memory loss as a result.

Young Josie suffered a fractured arm, bruising and a chipped tooth.

Mrs Hooper-Brown took to the witness box to read out a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing.

She said she had no recollection of the collision itself but went on to describe the devastating impact of Mr Brown's death on her family.

Mrs Hooper-Brown said: “Mine and Josie's life has been traumatically ruined.

“Every day is so hard living without Mike.

“I cry myself to sleep every night and not one minute goes by where we don't think of him.”

She described him as a loving father to Josie and said he played a 'huge part' in her life.

Mrs Hooper-Brown added; “I'm both physically and mentally scarred for life, Josie is mentally scarred for life.

“We are both facing a life sentence.”

Jamie Porter, mitigating, said Thapa - who was originally from Nepal had a four-year-old child himself - was a 'dreadful driver' but not someone who has set out with reckless intentions.

He said: “The reality is that he is just a very bad driver, not a wilfully bad driver.

“He wasn't intending to take reckless actions.”

Judge Peter Johnson labelled Thapa an 'arrogant' and 'selfish' driver as he passed his sentence.

He said: “As a result of your decision, which represented the culmination of a prolonged course of bad, aggressive driving, you killed Michael Brown and injured two members of his family.

“What happened, which was caused by your arrogance, poor driving skills and a selfish interest in getting home a few minutes earlier than you would have been the case, has left a permanent mark on many people.”

Thapa was also banned from driving for ten years and after he was sent down the judge expressed his sympathy to Mr Brown's family as well as paying tribute to the members of the public who assisted them at the crash scene.

He said: “I have seen evidence of commendable behaviour by members of the public who were at the scene that evening and publicly praise them for their actions.

“They behaved in a wonderful and public spirited way.”