Hangleton death crash driver jailed

A drink driver was jailed for six years today after killing another driver on the A27 Brighton bypass in Hangleton.

Joseph Lavelle, 36, a painter, of Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, was jailed for causing the death of Alf Filer, a 58-year-old father from Worthing, by careless driving when under the influence of alcohol.

Lavelle was also disqualified from driving for five years and will then have to pass an extended driving test in order to be allowed to drive again.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing last month and was sentenced today (Wednesday 22 August) at Lewes Crown Court.

The sentencing follows an investigation by Sussex Police Road Policing Unit officers into the crash on Thursday 23 June last year.

Mr Filer, of Elm Grove, Worthing, was standing by his broken down Vauxhall Astra when Lavelle’s Peugeot 306 crashed into it.

Joseph Lavelle

Sergeant Neil Walker said: “This is another tragic example of the way in which drink driving wrecks lives.

“That evening Lavelle was two and a half times over the limit when he hit Mr Filer who was by his own car which had broken down on the westbound carriageway.

“He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“This terrible incident has robbed a family and the community of a well-respected and much loved man.

“We remind all drivers – do not drink and drive.”