A WEYMOUTH mother has told how she is facing ‘a life sentence’ after a drink-driver killed her loving husband.

Trudy Bartlett, of the Lanehouse Rocks area, said the ‘very silly’ decision of Steven Cleal to get behind the wheel after drinking last summer had ‘devastated both families’.

She spoke out after Cleal was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty at Dorchester Crown Court to causing death by careless driving.

Motorcyclist Ray was killed instantly when Cleal’s Volkswagen Transporter van crashed into him. Cleal was one-and-a-half times over the legal limit.

Mrs Bartlett praised the judge’s ‘very strong message’ about the consequences of drink-driving but said: “The sentencing is not long enough for me.”

She said: “I don’t know how the law works, I just want people to realise how drink-driving affects people.

“It’s a life sentence for me now.

“Ray was only going out on a summer bike ride, minding his own business.

“No-one should drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel, it’s just ridiculous. It just takes that once and it’s devastated both families.

“Nothing will ever be the same again.”

On the morning of the tragedy, which came just 16 months after the death of their 23-year-old son Ryan, Mr Bartlett cooked his wife breakfast in bed and the couple visited Ryan’s grave.

The 51-year-old went out for his last ride just before 7pm and the police arrived with the devastating news at 8.30pm.

Mrs Bartlett said: “It’s the little things like that I miss.

“Ray was a sweet and loving family man, he was my soul-mate, my rock and a wonderful husband.

“We were just coming to terms with Ryan’s death, planning a holiday in Greece as a step forward but then everything was taken away.

“I’m going to fulfil a dream we both had to go to Niagara Falls in Canada: Life is too short.

“We’ve learnt that the hard way.

“We’re a very close family and luckily we’ve got some really good friends and work who have pulled us through.”

Mrs Bartlett added: “I had the most wonderful 28 years of marriage with Ray.

“It was a privilege and still is a privilege to be Ray’s wife. This sentencing has given us some closure, we have to move on – one step at a time.

“I go to Weymouth Crematorium every Friday to put fresh flowers out for Ryan and Ray.

“I can’t do any more. I hope he’s proud of me up there, that’s all I can say.”

Mr Bartlett’s children gave powerful victim impact statements to the court.

Faye, aged 19, said her father was ‘her world’ and that the closest thing she has to him now is a ring containing his ashes which she wears constantly but which will ‘never ever be good enough’.

Luke, aged 23, said: “My world has been turned upside-down.

“Dad was the best and kindest person you could wish to meet.

“I was devastated, a trembling wreck when I was told he had been killed.

“My life will never be the same again.

“None of our lives will be.”

'I'm truly sorry for the trauma I've caused' says van driver

STEVEN Cleal, of East Street, Chickerell, was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Weymouth motorcyclist Ray Bartlett was killed in the crash on the B3157 coast road from Bridport to Weymouth on June 26 last year.

Simon Jones, prosecuting, said 55-year-old Cleal had drunk at least two pints of cider at the Crown Inn in Bridport and was one-and-a-half times the legal limit when he got behind the wheel of his van.

Mr Jones said: “Raymond Bartlett was on the correct side of the road, not speeding and clearly visible to other road users.

“At about 7pm Cleal’s van veered onto the opposite carriageway and collided with the motorcyclist.

“The impact threw Mr Bartlett and his bike into the air and he landed in a hedge.

“Mr Bartlett was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The court was told that Cleal had 58 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he was tested after the collision.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Mr Jones told the court that when Cleal got out of his vehicle he asked: “What happened?”

When paramedics told him that Mr Bartlett had been killed he said: “Oh God no. I’ve had a few pints.

“I don't know what happened, I think I had fallen asleep.”

In mitigation, Matthew Kerruish-Jones said Cleal, a joiner and father of two, had no previous convictions and a good driving record.

He said: “The defendant has never denied the charges and pleaded guilty at the first possible occasion.

“He feels terrible and has genuine remorse about his actions and carries around a self-imposed life sentence.”

In a letter of apology Cleal told the court: “I would like to take the opportunity to let everyone know how sorry I am.

“I can't begin to understand how the family must feel.

“I never meant to harm anyone and am truly sorry for the trauma this has caused.”

Judge Roger Jarvis told Cleal: “This is a tragedy in which an entirely blameless motorcycle driver was struck by you when you were in a vehicle and had consumed too much alcohol.

“Until this tragedy you had led a blameless life and people spoke highly of you.

“It is obvious to me that you are full of remorse about what you have done.”

He added: “It must be understood by every driver that alcohol will affect competence.

“You were able to make a decision about taking alcohol when you drove.

“You chose to get behind the wheel when it must have been obvious to you that your driving was affected.”

Cleal was sentenced to 28 months in prison, disqualified from driving for three years and will have to take an extended retest.