THE father of a Newport man, killed when his drunken best friend crashed the car they were in, says he will fight on for justice, as investigations into the accident continue.

Nick Gurney spoke out after seeing Christopher Dawkins, aged 23, of Badminton Road, St Julians, jailed for four years yesterday for causing the death of Glyn Gurney in the early hours of May 30 this year.

The court was told Dawkins was three times over the drink-drive limit when he lost control of his Volkswagen Golf on the A4042 near the Grove Park roundabout in Newport.

Dawkins' car struck a crash barrier at 61mph. The barrier snapped and buckled under the impact - causing the fatal chest injuries to Mr Gurney who was in the passenger seat.

The Transport Research Laboratory is currently carrying out a separate investigation into why the crash barrier on the stretch of road came away following the crash and the results are expected in the New Year.

At Newport crown court yesterday, Judge David Wyn Morgan warned Dawkins that he had a "heavy burden to carry for the rest of his life".

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty at a heaing last Friday to causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit.

Following the sentence Nick Gurney said: "We just feel numb. This case was a tragedy for everybody involved. For us and for the family of Chris. It is not as though he went out to kill him. There are no winners by what has happened.

"Chris caused the crash, but what killed Glyn was the crash barrier. Someone, somewhere is responsible for that barrier. We have been told that it should have withstood the impact and I am determined to follow this through for my son."

Prosecutor Hwyel Hughes said a drunken Dawkins drove to Newport city centre to pick up Mr Gurney after they had been celebrating a friend's birthday.

Dawkins left a message on his friend's mobile phone saying: "I'm ratted. I shouldn't be driving."

A blood alcohol test on Dawkins showed he had 234 mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit is 80mg.

Martyn Kelly, defending Dawkins, said: "This defendant shows genuine shock and remorse and accepted responsibility straight away. It is a burden he now has to bear."

Judge David Wyn Morgan also banned Dawkins from driving for ten years.