Army
Hit-And-Run Driver Jailed After Soldier's Death
The father of a solder who was killed in a hit-and-run accident has told a court the death has left him serving a "life sentence", while the driver has been jailed for 21 months.
Jake Polmeer failed to stop on June 20 last year following the collision that killed 20-year-old Ben Regan, who served with the Coldstream Guards.
Polmeer was convicted by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it as well as driving without insurance.
The victim's father, Jim Regan, told the court he brought Ben up alone after his son's mother died when he was 13. He said:
"I feel cheated, left wondering how I am going to cope with the tragedy I was dealt with... Our sentence is a life sentence".
Ben's stepsister, Sam Murray, told the court:
"Losing my brother and my best friend has left me feeling like my life has ended and in some ways I wish it had."
Sentencing Polmeer, Judge Keith Cutler said Mr Regan had a promising career in the Army with the potential of serving with special forces.
Judge Cutler said Polmeer's failure to stop had been interpreted by Mr Regan's family as a "cynical manipulation" of the law to hide the possibility he was over the limit, but he said this had not been proven by the court.
Polmeer admitted drinking two or three pints of lager that night but by the time he handed himself into police the next day, all traces of alcohol had left his system. The judge added:
"I have heard a great tribute to the life of Ben Regan, a real glowing testament to that young man who had a promising life well-lived, which was tragically cut short. Nothing can be done to repair that loss."
The trial heard that Mr Regan, a keen rugby player, had just left the Joules wine bar in Bell Street, Reigate, Surrey, and had stepped into the road when he was struck by the speeding Mini Cooper being driven by 27-year-old Polmeer.
The court was told that London-based Mr Regan had gone to Reigate to visit his family on Father's Day and had gone out for the evening with friends. Robert Pawson, prosecuting, described how the impact knocked Mr Regan "out of his shoes", and said Polmeer had probably been driving at 40mph-45mph.
Mr Pawson said that after the crash, Polmeer, with girlfriend Danielle Frost in the passenger seat, did not stop and drove to his home in Bushfield Drive, Redhill. Mr Pawson said:
"He left the scene, he left a man if not dead but dying at the side of the road... Ben Regan was knocked out of his shoes. What did he (Polmeer) do after he sent Mr Regan skidding across the Tarmac? He didn't stop, he didn't brake, he didn't even apply the brakes. He knew he was at fault and needed to get away."
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