A boxing coach and father-of-three has been jailed for five years after a jury ruled he had driven dangerously and caused the death of another motorist.

John Verlander lost control of his car - with three children on board - as he overtook two other vehicles on a bend on the A229 at Linton.

But police discovered he had a level of cannabis in his body above the allowed limit and was speeding at the time of the horror smash.

Judge Adele Williams told him: “This was very irresponsible driving,” and banned him from driving for seven-and-a -half years.

Much-loved care worker Madalin-Constantin Lungoci, 22, from Hastings died at the scene from his injuries.

His Romanian parents told Maidstone Crown Court in a moving impact statement: “Our son represented our support and help for the old age to come but now we are hopeless.

“Our home is now a shrine, all our thoughts and actions resumed to prayers, lighting candles and alms.”

They revealed how Romanian Madalin was preparing for his marriage and was “the apple of our eyes, our ideals, our comfort.

“Madalin had his wedding date planned.

"He had paid for the place and musicians. We were a fulfilled family before the accident. We were dreaming about the present and the future. That ended with the accident.”

His mother Tanta added: “We can’t accept the fact our child was taken from us by a man who was under the influence of hallucinogenic substances”

Friend Gina Townson said: “He was so loved by all us girls at Betsy Clara nursing home where he worked.

"He was one of a kind, his smile could light up a whole room and we will never meet a more genuine person again.

“Mad was an amazing young man with a bright future ahead of him, a massive heart that couldn’t see wrong in anyone. He was a best friend, a brother and an amazing work colleague. Miss him loads and his funniness and smiles.

“We lost two lives that night our Mad and his fiancee, Camelia who couldn't stay in the country without him and went back home.”

Verlander, a South-East Water employee, who had admitted a lesser charge of careless driving, told a jury how he felt the “back end” of his Citroen slipping before the car went sidewards and struck the oncoming vehicle.

He had been to Sittingbourne coaching young boxers.

Prosecutor Rachel Beckett revealed that Verlander had more than the prescribed limit for cannabis four hours after the death crash.

And experts said his vehicle had been travelling at between 63mph and 71mph when he lost control.

Verlander, 38, of St Leonards, East Sussex had denied causing his death by driving dangerously.

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