A driver on the wrong side of the road tried to scrap his van after killing a biker.
Adrian Bendell crashed into a motorbike being ridden by Mark Norris, 47, and his teenage pillion passenger.
The horrific smash killed Mr Norris and left his 17-year-old passenger with a bleed on the brain, the permanent loss of the use of an arm and pelvic injuries.
Bendell fled from the devastating accident in Fyfield, Essex, and took his white Ford Escort van to a scrap yard in a bid to evade justice.
But his plan fell apart after it emerged the badly battered van had been captured in dash-cam footage, revealing massive damage where it had been in collision with Mr Norris’ motorbike.
Police were able to use the registration details to begin a search for the killer driver.
They got a big breakthrough in the form of a tip-off that Bendell had taken the battered van to be scrapped within hours of the fatal accident.
Officers were told the van driver had taken the van there on the same evening as the 8pm death crash on August 10, 2021.
White Ford vehicle parts were also found in a skip at the scrapyard, whose owner had urged Bendell to hand himself in to the police.
A manhunt was launched and Bendell was located and arrested by officers three days after the collision.
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and failing to report a collision.
He admitted all charges, other than perverting the course of justice, at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Yesterday he also admitted perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to a total of nine years.
He was also disqualified from driving for seven-and-a-half years and will be required to take an extended driving test.
Inspector Mark Fraser, of Essex Police, said: “Mark Norris was dearly loved by those who knew him and his death has had a massive impact on them.
“Adrian Bendell was reckless and his actions after the collision were callous. Rather than stop to try and help Mark and his passenger, he made off, leaving him to die.
“His first thought was how he could cover his tracks and dispose of the vehicle.”
Inspector Norris praised his officers for tracking down Bendell, of Braintree, Essex.
“Through the dedication of the team working on this case, he was unable to get away with his crime and has now faces justice," he said.
“No conviction or sentence can ever bring Mark back but I hope this result will help his family move forward."
After Mark’s death last summer his family said: “Mark was a dearly loved and devoted father to Joe and Sara, partner to Helen, son to Jan and friend to everyone that knew him.
“Mark was a keen and experienced motorcycle rider and enjoyed everything motor powered.”
They said his death had left "a huge hole in their hearts.”
