A 21-year-old man has been jailed for more than three years after admitting causing the death of 74-year-old John Edward Nutt through dangerous driving.

James David Beames, from Lower Quinton, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 9 March to 162 weeks in prison after the crash on the B4086 Stratford Road near Charlecote.

He was also disqualified from driving for 78 months and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

Beames was said to have used his phone while driving and claimed he fell asleep at the wheel.

The collision happened at around 6am on 7 March 2024. Beames was driving a Ford Fiesta to work at a local farm when he failed to negotiate a sweeping left hand bend, crossing into the path of Mr Nutt's Microcar.

Mr Nutt - who was travelling from his home in Wellesbourne to meet friends for coffee in Stratford - died after the head-on collision.

PC Craig Pearson said: "Evidence showed that Beames had used his mobile phone several times during his journey, although we could not prove he was using it at the moment of the collision.

"He also claimed he had fallen asleep at the wheel, but again, this could not be proven.

advertisement

"What is clear is that the actions of one driver cost the life of an innocent man.

"Beames will now spend over three years in prison and face a lengthy driving ban that will have a lasting impact on his future.

 "Our message to all drivers is simple - put your phone on safe mode or keep it out of reach. No call or message is worth a life."