Thomas Plane, 28, died after Nicolae Brica's Renault Megane struck him and his twin brother James in Barrack Street in the early hours of December 24 last year.

Norwich Crown Court heard Thomas became trapped beneath the vehicle and was dragged along the road before firefighters winched the car away so paramedics could reach him.

Sentencing Brica on Thursday, Judge Andrew Shaw paid tribute to the officer who stayed with Thomas as he lay trapped under the car, holding his hand until he died.

P:olice at scene of fatal crash (Image: Newsquest)

Norwich Crown Court heard the 28-year-old twins had been riding a Beryl bike on their way back from a night out in the city with others - including older brother Ben - when they came off and "fell into the road".

Thomas was injured and left "lying in the road" while his brother James had "gone to his aid".

Another driver, who saw what had happened, stopped to try and warn other motorists of the brothers being in the road as James called 999.

But Stephen Donnelly, prosecuting, said the call was "abruptly" cut short as James was "hit by the defendant's car mid-call".

He said James was "thrown forward" after being struck by Brica while Thomas "became trapped underneath the vehicle and dragged along the road before the vehicle came to a stop".

Emergency services arrived although paramedics were unable to reach Thomas until the car was winched out of the way by firefighters.

The court heard one of the officers "stayed with him" as he was trapped under the car and "held his hand as he drew his last breath".

P:olice at scene of fatal crash (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Donnelly said Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene while James was taken to hospital with serious injuries, including fractures to his left leg, hip, base of spine and a dislocated left shoulder.

Brica, formerly of Heathgate, Norwich, was arrested after he failed a breath test at the scene where he provided a reading of 72 microgames of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He claims he had a glass........

© Eastern Daily Press