DRINK-DRIVER Adrian Radu has been given an 11-year jail sentence for causing the death of a Chorley father-of-four by attempting a U-turn on the M1.


Radu, 28, of Alfreton Road, Nottingham, was also handed a 13-and-half-year driving ban after pleading guilty to causing the death of Mark Downham by dangerous driving.

A judge at Nottingham Crown Court said Radu - who was found with a bottle of whisky in his jacket - had shown a reckless disregard for the safety of other motorists before his "disgraceful" decision to drive away from the scene towards oncoming traffic.

Romanian national Adrian Radu, of Alfreton Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to the charge during an appearance at the city's Crown Court on Tuesday, police said.

The 28-year-old, who failed a roadside breath-test, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and other motoring offences.

Officers were called to a collision involving a car driven by Radu, a van and a lorry on the M1 southbound near Nottingham at about 5.40am on March 24.

The back seat passenger in the van, 48-year-old Mark Downham, from Chorley, Lancashire, was taken to hospital but died from his injuries two days later.

In a statement issued after the court hearing, police said Radu was seen by other motorists driving a Vauxhall Astra on the M1 southbound in an erratic and dangerous manner prior to the collision, often stopping for no apparent reason.

Following the crash, Radu failed to stop at the scene and opted to drive northbound on the southbound carriageway.