A PLASTERER whose dangerous driving caused the death of a Ringwood mum-of-two as she returned from her sister's funeral has been jailed for four years and four months.

Lewis Faulkner had Ecstasy and cannabis in his system at the time of the crash, which also left the victim's two children and her nephew with terrible injuries.

Faulkner, 25, broke down in tears as Judge Peter Crabtree told him: "It is a tragic case that your offending has had catastrophic consequences, not only for the lady who was killed but for those others who were in the vehicle."

He jailed him for four years and four months after he admitted causing Tereasa Cutler's death by dangerous driving on June 10 last year.

Faulkner also admitted three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one of causing death while driving without insurance.

He received a sentence of six months imprisonment for each, with all sentences to run concurrently.

Tereasa Cutler, of Linnet Close, Hightown, was driving a Ford Fiesta on the A31, near Lake Gates in Wimborne, with daughter Alice, 18 at the time, in the front passenger seat.

Her son, Daniel, 16, and 19-year-old nephew, Joseph Woodland, were in the back of the car.

They were on their way to the wake following the funeral of Joseph's mum, Patricia Woodland and Tereasa had taken on parental responsibility for Joseph, who has learning difficulties.

Their car collided head-on with Faulkner's black BMW 3 series car, which had failed to negotiate a bend and was on the wrong side of the road.

Witnesses said Faulkner appeared to be facing forwards but no brake lights were seen and he made no attempt to change course as he travelled across the centre of the road.

Faulkner and his passenger, 22-year-old Harry Barlow, also suffered serious injuries. Faulkner, of Coburg Road, Dorchester had two collapsed lungs and a broken leg and Barlow had a dislocated shoulder and ligament damage.

Ms Cutler was the welfare officer of Ringwood Football Club's youth groups, managing the safety of 200 youngsters in 20 teams.

Blood tests revealed cannabis and Ecstasy in Faulkner's system and he told police he had taken the drugs five days earlier.

Family members and friends of Tereasa Cutler and Lewis Faulkner packed the court for the sentencing hearing.

Tereasa's daughter Alice read a victim impact statement to court. Read it here

Defending Faulkner, Patrick Mason described him as "a shattered young man" and added: "He has not been the same since - he will not ever be the same again.

"If he could turn the clock back, he would change everything. He had no intent, no recklessness, no malice."

Sentencing, Judge Crabtree said: "Alice is now head of the household many years before she should have had any responsibility."

Police warning over drug-driving 

A SENIOR police officer has warned against driving after taking drugs after investigating what he described as "an absolutely tragic set of circumstances."

Inspector Matt Butler spoke out after the court heard Lewis Faulkner had both Ecstasy and cannabis in his system at the time of the horrific crash.

Toxicology tests revealed both drugs in his blood despite Faulkner telling officers he took the drugs five days before the accident.

The court heard that it is "unlikely" but "just possible" that Ecstasy would still have been in his system after five days. The judge heard he would have taken a large dose for it to be possible.

After the case, Insp Butler said: "This accident has had a devastating impact on the victims and I would like to pay tribute to Alice, Dan and Joe.

"We know that people take recreational drugs but they may not know that the effects of the drugs stay with you for a very long time.

"We know that the drugs were still in his system. Drowsiness caused him to cross the the wrong side of the road."

The court was told that Faulkner failed to negotiate a bend, crossed to the wrong side of the road and made no attempt to brake or to change course.