A LORRY driver who kept his eyes off the road for nine seconds before ploughing into the back of a car, killing two people, told horrified witnesses who rushed to help: "This is all I need - it's my first day back from holiday."

In shocking evidence given at court today, it was heard that John Rogers didn't apply the brakes for a full three seconds after driving his huge 12-wheel HGV into the back of an Audi Q5 being driven by Poole grandad Michael James on June 5, 2017.

Mr James, of Birkdale Court in Broadstone, and his friend Susan Curtis, Malvern Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, were crushed between Rogers' vehicle and the Renault lorry in front.

Bournemouth Echo:

Susan Curtis, pictured with her two sons

The defendant, 65, was travelling on cruise control and hadn't looked at the road for almost ten seconds at the time of the crash. The cause of the distraction is not known.

Mr James, 77, and Ms Curtis, 67, who were returning from a weekend away together, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Selfish Rogers was jailed for four years and eight months today after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving before a judge at Winchester Crown Court.

Bournemouth Echo: Michael James, who lived in Broadstone, died in a collision on the M3

Poole grandfather Michael James

A judge heard his HGV was travelling at 52mph on cruise control when he hit the Audi at 10.20am on the M3 motorway by Winchester.

Rogers tried to blame Mr James, who was in busy traffic and doing just 11mph, for the collision, claiming he had pulled in front of him. He even told police Mr James was an "idiot".

The defendant did not show any emotion at court as dashcam footage of the crash was played. The footage, taken from the cab of the Renault lorry, included an audio track of the driver screaming in pain.

Bournemouth Echo:

The scene of the horrific crash on the M3

Prosecutor Tom Wright told the court Rogers, who was hauling a 40ft shipping container filled with car parts, had in fact pulled out in front of Mr James, causing the victim to have to brake.

"There were signs warning about the traffic, one of those being a kilometre back from the slow traffic," Mr Wright said.

"The defendant was travelling at a consistent speed of 52mph, while the Audi had been doing about 11mph.

"When other motorists went to help the defendant in his cab, he said, 'This is all I need, this is my first day back from holiday'.

"He claimed the Audi had pulled in front of him and he could not avoid the collision.

"In interview, he told police, 'You know the idiots you get who try to jump in front of you. [The Audi] came up the outside, the brake lights came on and he whipped into the inside lane.'"

Bournemouth Echo:

Rogers arrives at Winchester Crown Court 

Judge Susan Evans told Rogers, a grandfather of eight from Trdegar, Gwent, that his distraction caused the loss of 'much-loved' parents and friends.

"To say their families have been devastated by this does not do it justice. They have had no chance to say goodbye to a loved one," she said.

"There's nothing this court can do to compensate the loss of their lives.

"Your attention was in some way distracted for a period of nine seconds, it is not known what caused you to be distracted.

"You did not, in fact, brake until three seconds after the collision. It seems to me this created a substantial risk of danger - you did not seem to respond to the traffic.

"There was also some degree of blame laid on Mr James, but he was in no way to blame for what happened."

Mitigating, Alexander Greenwood said the crash had a major impact on his Rogers, who had been an HGV driver for 18 years.

"He is simply unaware of how this collision occurred," Mr Greenwood said.

"This has had a big impact on his life. [His] heart condition has worsened, likely through the stress and guilt he has felt."

Speaking after the sentencing, crash investigator PC Mark Furse said: "Rogers had at least eight to nine seconds to stop his vehicle and could have done so safely in half that.

"He did not apply any braking until around three seconds after the first impact.

"This absolute tragedy just shows what a few moments of inattention can result in. The need to pay full attention at all times in paramount.

"Even the slightest distraction can have catastrophic consequences and the effects are far reaching and last a lifetime."

Mr James' family said he would be "terribly missed" in a statement released by police after his death.