Drink-drivers ‘should get life sentence’ (From Wiltshire Times)

Drink-drivers ‘should get life sentence’

12:23pm Friday 23rd December 2005 in Corsham By David Giles

DRINK-drivers who kill innocent people should be given a life sentence, according to crash widow Maggie Matcham.

Mrs Matcham's husband, Michael, was killed in a crash on Lacock Road, Corsham, in July, due to the actions of a drink driver.

On Friday, Godric Goodrich, 46, of Creswells, Corsham, was told he faces jail after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while being over the prescribed limit for alcohol.

Swindon Crown Court heard he was almost twice the legal limit when his Peugeot 206 collided head-on with Mr Matcham's Vauxhall Astra on July 7.

Mr Matcham, a self- employed painter and decorator, was trapped in his car and had to be freed by fire- fighters before he was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital, Bath. The 64-year-old never regained consciousness.

Goodrich was found to have 64mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath following the accident. The legal limit is 35mg.

Speaking after the case, Mrs Matcham, 43, of Potley Lane, Corsham, said: "It has devastated us all, we should have been spending Christmas together.

"I think he Goodrich should get life. He didn't go out to kill my husband but he must have known what he was doing, it was 4.30 in the afternoon.

"It has just been terrible because he is never coming back because that bloke did what he did.

"My grandson knows he has been missing but it has been hard to explain to him that his granddad is never coming back."

Mr Matcham and his wife had one daughter, Amy, 16. He also had two children from his first marriage, Nicola, 35, and James, 33, as well as two step-children, Wayne, 25, and Claire Kneblewski, 22, and five grandchildren.

Adjourning the case for pre-sentence reports, Judge Tom Longbotham told Goodrich he faced jail.

"You have pleaded guilty to what is a serious charge and I have little doubt that you have been advised of the very serious risk that you face a sentence of imprisonment," he said.

He also imposed an interim driving ban, meaning Goodrich is disqualified immediately with the final length of the ban being decided when he is sentenced.