A CAR driver who was eight times over the cocaine limit when he caused a motorcyclist’s death has been jailed for five years today.

David Bond, 43, of Woodview, Worrall Hill, was also banned from driving for five years. The ban will not begin until he is released from prison.

Bond had denied causing the death of Nigel Meadows by driving without due care and attention when he was ‘coming down from a cocaine high’ on July 18 2020 on the A4136 at Brierley..

The charge stated that at the time of his careless driving he had eight times the legal limit of Benzoylecgonine – which is produced by the use of cocaine – in his blood.

He claimed his driving was not affected by his drinking or cocaine use the night before the collision and that Mr Meadows was speeding at the time of the collision.

But his claims were rejected by the jury at Gloucester Crown Court and on Friday (May 5) Judge Moira Macmillan told him: “You tried to suggest that Mr Meadows was travelling at speed at around 100mph you said. But this was not borne out in the evidence, which suggests he was travelling at the speed limit of 60mph.

“A police collision expert believes Mr Meadows would have been in your line of sight for three to four seconds. Yet you failed to see him. The motor bike’s exhaust was loud and Mr Meadows was wearing high visibility clothing.”

Prosecutor Richard Posner said Bond was driving his Hyundai ix35 towards Coleford and Mr Meadows was riding in the opposite direction when the collision happened outside the entrance to Great Berry Quarry..

“Mr Bond was trying to manoeuvre his car across the road into a layby,” said Mr Posner. “The consequences for Mr Meadows were fatal.

“His motorbike collided with the front passenger side door of Mr Bond’s car. He died at the scene.

“What caused Mr Bond to move across the road as he did was an act of careless driving.

“He failed to see the motorbike riding towards him and pulled in front of Mr Meadows, causing the collision.

“Witnesses at the scene after the collision heard Mr Bond say he was distracted by what he believed was someone trying to contact him on his mobile phone.

“The result of a blood sample taken from Mr Bond later that afternoon at the police station showed he had Benzoylecgonine in his blood and it was there as a result of him having consumed cocaine, probably the night before.

“There are limits by which one is permitted to drive a vehicle on the road before there are legal consequences. A person can provide a reading of up to 50mcgs of Benzoylecgonine before it is unlawful.

“Mr Bond’s reading was 400mcgs. That reading, the prosecution say, is consistent with him coming down from the ‘high’ he had experienced the night before. His lapse of judgement caused him to drive carelessly into the path of a motorbike rider who was using the road safely. “

Mr Posner said police investigations revealed no defect in either vehicle. They also found that Mr Meadows was not exceeding the 60mph limit.

It was also established, said Mr Posner, that Bond would have been able to see the motorbike approaching for between three and four seconds before the collision.

Bond’s defence was that Mr Matthews was riding ‘at a ridiculous speed’ and if he had not been going so fast the collision would not have happened.  Bond claimed that the cocaine he had taken the night before the crash had no impact on his ability to drive. He also denied that he was distracted by a call on his mobile phone.

Mr Meadows’ wife Sue, said in a statement to the court: “My whole world has fallen apart. I’ve been living a lonely existence ever since he was taken from us. My life and my daily routine has changed beyond recognition.

“I still can’t believe Nigel is not coming home. We’d been together for 30 years and married for 28 of them. I miss him every moment of the day even in the simple things. My future has been bereft of fun. We had been planning what we would do for the next 30 years of our lives.

“I’m now worried about my finances. Nigel was the breadwinner and he planned for everything.

“Whilst I understand that the trial had to delve into evidential matters, I felt that Nigel was almost forgotten while Bond was painted in the best possible light by his barrister.

“Nigel cared for his bike, and maintained it well. He would always wear a helmet and high visibility clothing. He was also a careful rider.

“Nigel had been looking forward to our daughter’s wedding and taking on his responsibilities that come with it.”

Mr Meadows’ father Leslie said: “My last memory of Nigel was saying goodbye to him as he left that fateful day. I did not know that this would be the last time I would see him alive.

“Nigel was a much loved son who cannot be replaced. He was somebody who could, and did, do anything for anybody.”

Richard Paton-Philip, representing Bond, told the court: “The impact of the collision could not have been more devastating as it has impacted on the lives of all concerned.”

He said Bond been haunted by the death of Mr Meadows and had not touched illicit substances since that day. He has been addressing his own issues with the help of Change Grow Live, Gloucestershire’s drug and alcohol recovery service, added the barrister.

“I’d like to point out there was no evidence to suggest that Bond had any impairment whilst driving and that no observation had been made at the scene to this effect,” he said.

“Bond’s employer said he would keep his job open for when he has served the inevitable custodial sentence.”

Passing sentence  of five years imprisoment and five years driving disqualification  the judge said “It is clear that the tragic death of Nigel Meadows has been devastating for his family. He was a well-loved husband, son, father and grandfather.

“He was his family’s rock. Three years on from his death, his family are still struggling with the effects of him not being around.

“The consequence for his wife is that her world had fallen apart. I would like to offer my sympathy to his family and commend them for the way they have conducted themselves during these court proceedings.

“However there is no sentence that this court can pass that will pay recompense for the family’s loss.”

Judge Macmillan turned to Bond and said: “When you were tested by the police at the site of the collision, you lied telling the officers that you didn’t use drugs, despite being found positive from a drug swipe.

“However when you were searched a knife blade was found in your wallet, with remnants of white powder on it.

“You’d taken cocaine for so long that you would have been very familiar as to its effects on you.

“Before this collision, you had already driven to the supermarket and done some shopping and were on the way back home. This despite consuming three bottles of cider and taking cocaine the night before, you still chose to drive.

“You tried to suggest throughout the trial that Mr Meadows was travelling at speed at around 100mph you said. But this was not borne out in the evidence, which suggests he was travelling at the speed limit of 60mph.

“A police collision expert believes Mr Meadows would have been in your line of sight for three to four seconds. Yet you failed to see him. The motorbike’s exhaust was loud and Mr Meadows was wearing high visibility clothing.

“There is no evidence that there was poor driving before you made the manoeuvre to enter the entrance to the quarry.

“There is no doubt your level of intoxication was high – eight times over the drug-drive limit – especially as there is a zero tolerance to this type of driving.

“I have read a number of references submitted on your behalf, which put you in a different light. I accept that the remorse you’ve shown to this court is genuine.

“However this offence is so serious that only an immediate period of custody of five years can be justified, which is the least sentence I can impose.”