Drink-driver who killed man in head-on crash jailed

A drink-driver who killed a man in a head-on crash last year has been jailed.

Thomas Hardyman, 38, was driving a Range Rover on the B3116 Burnett Hill, near Keynsham, when his car crossed into the opposite carriageway and crashed head-on into a Peugeot van.

The van driver, Julian Cole, died at the scene. His family have described him as "one of life's good guys".

Hardyman, from Compton Martin, admitted causing death by careless driving in January and was jailed for five years and four months at Bristol Crown Court earlier.

Hardyman was travelling alone when the fatal collision occurred at about 15:30 GMT on 21 January.

Dashcam footage recovered from his vehicle showed his car clip the kerb and stray into the opposite carriageway several times before the crash.

Hardyman was taken to Southmead Hospital following the incident where he was found to be almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

A passenger in the van and two occupants of a third vehicle that collided with the Range Rover and van were all physically unharmed.

The court heard Hardyman had been sentenced last year for another drink-driving offence committed in August 2024, seven months after the fatal collision.

In a statement, Mr Cole's family paid tribute to the 66-year-old from Keynsham.

They said: "Julian was one of life's good guys; an unassuming quiet soul with a heart of gold and a helping hand for anyone who would need it.

"We were the lucky ones to have called him a brother, an uncle and a friend, and we have seen in the past 12 months that his loss is felt across Keynsham and the wider area.

"If only there were more Julians in the world, it would be a much better place."

Dai Nicholas, the Avon and Somerset officer on the case, said the thoughts of all those that worked on the investigation are with Mr Cole's family.

He said: "We would please urge every motorist to please read the Cole family statement and let it sink in. They have lost a huge part of their family because of Hardyman's actions.

"We hope this case acts as a reminder to everyone that road safety is not something anyone should ever take lightly."

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