Drink-driver jailed for death of farmer, Teesdale Mercury

A WOMAN whose brother was killed by a drink-driver says she is “in shock” after hearing the man was three times over the legal alcohol limit.

Raymond Handley, 71, from Bowes, died after a Jaguar car hit his tractor on the A66 in October.

Thomas Moffat, who was driving the Jaguar, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.

He was jailed for three years and banned for driving for five years at Teesside Crown Court on Monday.

Mr Handley lived with his sister, Nancy Bainbridge, at Low Broates farm.

After the court’s verdict, Mrs Bainbridge said: “It’s a shock. It’s a terrible shock and it’s difficult to know what to say.” At the time of the crash, Mr Handley’s brother, John, called for a tough sentence: “They should throw the book at him. He should never be allowed to get behind the wheel ever again – he was that drunk.”

Mr Handley was driving his tractor westbound on the A66, near Boldron, when the crash happened on October 29.

Moffat, 49, was on his way home to Scotland with his 19-year-old son in the passenger seat after drinking and playing golf in the area.

The defendant’s Jaguar hit the tractor and the impact threw Mr Handley through the back window and onto the road. The Jaguar then spun into the outside lane, hitting a Ford Focus and an Audi A4. The driver and passenger of the Ford escaped before the vehicle caught fire.

Mr Handley later died from head injuries at Darlington Memorial Hospital. A test taken in hospital showed that Moffat had 96mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

The judge was told that Moffat, of Belhaven Park, Muirhead, would have given a reading of 120mcg when the accident happened.

Insp Ed Turner, from the Road Policing Unit, welcomed the court’s decision.

He said: “The sentence shows just how serious the courts view drink-driving. But the sentence will only 

be small consolation to Mr Handley’s family who have lost a loved one.”

Insp Turner said getting behind the wheel after drinking was “totally unacceptable”. He said: “We would encourage people to report drink-drivers so we can act to stop tragic accidents.”

Mr Handley, who was a regular at Barnard Castle Auction Mart, had been planning to retire to a bungalow in Barnard Castle with his sister.

Mrs Bainbridge said she still hopes to move into the bungalow.