A judge at Leeds Crown Court said Simon Arnold showed "disgraceful cowardice" as he jailed him for for three years and 11 months.

Arnold, 38, had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while intoxicated and two counts of possession of drugs.

He was returning from a party late at night with 33-year-old Michelle Archer when he hit a parked lorry in Horsforth, last May.

Arnold fled the scene, leaving his friend of 20 years to die of severe head injuries a few hours later at Leeds General Infirmary.

The father-of-two, who lived locally at the time, was arrested at his home later that day.

Police found a bag of cocaine in his wallet and cannabis plants growing at his house.

Arnold failed an alcohol breath test and tested positive for traces of cocaine in his system, suggesting the drug had been taken in the last 12 hours.

He told police he had no memory of the accident but remembered drinking "three or four pints" at the party, which he did not think would affect his driving.

Recorder Neil Clark sentenced him to three years and nine months for causing death by careless driving and a further two months to run consecutively for cultivating cannabis.

Several members of Ms Archer's family wept as the sentence was read out.
Mr Clark said: "You had consumed too much alcohol and you had cocaine in your system, and in doing that you took her life.

"You know nothing you can say or do will bring that young woman back to her family.

"You did not stay at the scene and that was an act of disgraceful cowardice."

But Mr Clark added that the defendant was of previously good character and his remorse did seem genuine.

Arnold, who has since moved to Treetops Close, Marple, near Stockport, was told he must serve at least half his sentence before being considered for parole.