A DRINK-DRIVER who killed a young father was today starting seven-and-a-half years in jail for his "callous disregard" of the law and the safety of others.

Howard Moore, 54, had been banned from driving and was more than four times over the alcohol limit when he terrified his passengers by speeding at 85mph to prevent another car overtaking him on the A170 between Scarborough and Pickering, York Crown Court heard.

David Bradshaw, prosecuting, said Moore's BMW crashed head-on into a car being driven correctly and legally by the former manager of Boyes' Malton store, Andrew Hansell, 29, who died instantly.

Moore, who had five previous convictions for drink-driving offences, had spent the afternoon in a pub. He had lied to his back-seat passenger about how much alcohol he had had.

"In view of your callous disregard for the road traffic rules and for the safety of other road users you are very high up the scale of criminality," the honorary recorder of York Judge Paul Hoffman told Moore.

"This is one of the worst cases which can come before a court."

In addition to the jail sentence, he banned Moore from driving for ten years and ordered him to retake his driving test.

"Thank you, your Honour, for the sentence you have passed," Mr Hansell's father, Peter, called out as Moore was led away. The family did not speak as they left court, but DC Andy Richardson on their behalf thanked everyone who had supported them since Andrew Hansell's death. He was married with a two-year-old daughter and lived in Shelton Avenue, East Ayton. Moore, of Potter Hill, Pickering, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, drink-driving, two offences of driving while disqualified and one of driving without insurance.

For Moore, Mark McKone said he had only been speeding for a short distance. He recognised he had a drink problem and was hoping to get counselling while in jail.

Mr Bradshaw said that despite serving a five-year driving ban for drink-driving, Moore bought a BMW and drove to York on October 28 to pick up his wife's friend, Linda Austin.

Mrs Austin, 39, suffered a neck injury in the fatal crash the next day, which led to her losing her job and spending three months in a metal jacket. Mrs Moore suffered a broken leg. On October 29, Moore drove the women at 20mph from Scarborough along the A170 Racecourse Road towards Pickering, although the speed limit rose to 60mph. He weaved across the road, clipped the kerb, crossed double white lines and claimed that the Citroen car behind him was tail-gating, said Mr Bradshaw.

When it tried to perform a safe overtaking manoeuvre, Moore accelerated so rapidly, eye-witnesses estimated he was travelling at 85mph.

Updated: 11:40 Tuesday, January 21, 2003