A DRIVER who pleaded guilty to causing the death of a Irish farmer on the M4 near Newport has been jailed for 16 months.

Jason Edward Norman, 45, of Jowett Avenue, Merthyr Tydfil, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by driving dangerously near Junction 28 on the M4 Newport.

The incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday, December 14 last year, killed 56-year-old Andre Murphy of Wexford, Ireland, while he was changing a tire on a horsebox.

Claire Wilks, prosecuting, explained how the farmer was driving through Newport on his way to Pembroke Dock when he got a flat tyre on the M4 slip road near the Tredegar Park roundabout.

At around 4.15am, Mr Murphy and a colleague pulled over to the side of the road – which has no hard shoulder – and began the process of changing the tires.

The court heard how the pair had put on the vehicle’s hazard lights and repositioned a cone that was found at the side of the road.

Eyewitness HGV driver David Webster, explained how he saw Norman's car indicate to leave on the slip road before failing to brake or alter its path before hitting the stationary vehicle.

Additional witness evidence from a driver who arrived after the crash, described Norman as being “hysterical” and saying “I think I killed him”.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Murphy had died as a result of multiple internal and external injuries to his head, chest and abdomen and blunt vehicle trauma.

Police investigations of the crash site there were no mechanical defects with Norman’s car that would have caused to him to divert from his path and that weather conditions were clear.

The prosecution characterised the incident as a ‘look, but fail to see collision’ as Norman was travelling at 54mph, didn’t use the brake and had less than six seconds to see the horsebox and react.

Mr Murphy had previously built up a successful horse transportation business with fiancée Julie Radden, who described herself as “still in shock” over the death.

As part of a victim impact statement read in court, she described her fiancée as “an amazing character, one in a million, well liked” and that the pair were “part of a great team”.

Harpreet Sandhu, defending, stated that Norman’s “true and genuine” remorse, immediate guilty plea and previous good driving record should be taken into account.

“He has struggled to live emotionally with the knowledge that he has caused the death of another person,” he said.

“He has attempted to remain as stoic as he can for those who are close to him and those that feel his absence so they won’t be effected more than they need to be.”

He added: “His driving record wasn’t good but exemplary. That makes this case more tragic for all concerned.”

Judge David Wynne Morgan, extended condolences to the family of the victim but also acknowledged the “level of guilt, stress and remorse” that Norman has faced.

However, he “reluctantly” concluded that a suspended sentence was not appropriate.

“Mr Norman has no previous convictions and is a decent law abiding member of the community, a husband, a father and a hard worker with an unblemished record as a driver,” he said.

“He did not set out on the journey that morning with the intention of ending anyone’s life.

“While he accepts his need for punishment it’s not in the court’s power to restore Mr Murphy to his loved ones.”

Norman was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and must serve half of the sentence in custody, alongside a five-year-driving ban and statutory victim surcharge.

Norman must also sit another driving test before he is allowed behind the wheel again.