A DRINK-DRIVER who killed a motorcyclist when he did a U-turn in a stolen pick-up truck has been remanded in custody by a judge at Warwick Crown Court.
Victim Ian Shaw died at the scene when his Kawasaki motor-bike was hit by the pick-up truck as driver Barry Tarn made a U-turn on the A452 Kenilworth Road near Balsall Common.
Tarn, aged 54, of Deasley House, Willenhall, Coventry pleaded guilty to causing the death of 50-year-old Mr Shaw from Yardley, by careless driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
After the crash on July 7 Tarn swerved onto the forecourt of a nearby Mercedes dealership and smashed into a parked Mercedes car before getting out and making off on foot.
Tarn, who was more than twice the legal alcohol limit at the time, also pleaded guilty to the aggravated taking of the Toyota Hi-lux 4x4 pick-up from a nearby farm a few minutes earlier.
And he admitted further charges of having no insurance, no licence, failing to stop after the accident and failing to report the accident.
Tarn, who has never held a driving licence but has no previous convictions, also asked for an offence of being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink two days earlier to be taken into consideration.
Asking for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Tarn, his barrister Ben Mills said: "He acknowledges there is only going to be one type of sentence."
Judge Richard Cole commented: "In this sort of case, although it does sometimes cause distress to the family of the dec-eased, it is important that full details of the defendant's background are before the court."
He agreed to adjourn the case for a report to be prepared, but remanded Tarn in custody and told him: "I want it clearly understood there is no possibility other than a lengthy sentence of imprisonment."
