A drink-driver who killed a man by driving the wrong way down the M20 whilst twice over the legal limit has been jailed for five years.

Christopher Clement, 37, formerly of Warnham Grove, Orpington, killed his passenger Mohammed Chowdhury when he drove his Toyota Corolla head-on into a Volkswagen Touareg in the early hours of March 4 this year.

The crash happened between junctions three and four when police said it appeared Clement didn’t know he was on the wrong side of the motorway.

Tests showed he had 169 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit being 80 milligrams.

Cannabis was also found in his blood and although levels were below the legal limit he admitted to taking the drug before driving.

Clement appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today (October 18) where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison.

Pc Chris Oliver-Jones of Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Christopher Clement should never have been behind the wheel of a car.

“After the collision, witnesses told us he wasn’t aware he had been driving the wrong way on the motorway.

“Driving under the influence of either drink or drugs not only devastates the lives of victims and relatives, but also ruins the lives of offenders.

“In this instance Clement’s reckless actions have resulted in the death of a young man who had his whole life in front of him.

“I only hope today's outcome provides some comfort to his family.

“I hope this sentence also serves as a warning to anyone who is under the influence of alcohol and is considering getting behind the wheel. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

“Mistakes like this cost lives and I’d like to reassure the public that we will do absolutely everything within our power to bring offenders to justice.”