The man driving the car which hit and killed soldier Ben Regan in Reigate has been jailed for nearly two years.

Jake Polmeer, 27 of Bushfield Drive, Redhill, was convicted of causing death by careless driving, following the collision in the early hours of June 20 last year.

He was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Monday afternoon to 21 months in prison.

Coldstream Guard Mr Regan, who was 20, died when he was struck by a Mini Cooper being driven by Polmeer, just a week after taking part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony for the Queen.

A court heard the defendant was travelling at up to 40mph in a 30mph zone when the car smashed into Mr Regan - hitting him so hard he was knocked out of his shoes.

The jury was told Polmeer did not even apply the brakes to the Mini Cooper owned by his girlfriend Danielle Frost, who was in the front passenger seat at the time.

Polmeer, who denied death by careless driving but was convicted of the charge, did not stop at the scene.

Ben Regan with his dad Jim after his passing out ceremony

Mr Regan, a member of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, had returned home to Reigate to visit his dad on Father's Day and then went out with friends.

He was attempting to cross the road outside Joules Bar, which he had just left, when he was struck.

The court also heard either Polmeer or his mother contacted a lawyer in the morning, who then called police to say Polmeer was handing himself in.

He admitted other charges of driving without insurance, failing to stop to report information and causing personal injury by using a vehicle.

Judge Keith Cutler, who also banned Polmeer from the roads for two years and three months, said: "Ben Regan had spent a very enjoyable night having seen his father for Father's Day, and then friends.

"You, Mr Polmeer, were driving your girlfriend's car and did not have insurance. The suspicion is you were worse for wear through alcohol.

"As you began to drive you indeed saw Ben Regan and others. After hitting him for whatever reason you drove away, which is completely unjustified."

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