A north Mulmur Township man has been sentenced to five years in prison and prohibited from driving for the rest of his life, following convictions for impaired driving causing death and driving while disqualified.

Gregory Drake, 48, pleaded guilty before Justice Bruce Pugsley in Ontario Court last Friday.

The five-year sentence - on a charge that carries a maximum life imprisonment - was recommended in a joint submission by prosecutor Rick Schwarzl and defence lawyer David O'Connor.

In accepting the recommendation, Justice Pugsley took into account the guilty plea, Mr. Drake's remorse about the incident, and his his attempts to get his alcoholism under control.

The single-vehicle collision that claimed the life of Stanley Cowling, 39, occurred last July after Mr. Drake and Mr. Cowling had been drinking heavily together. According to the evidence, Mr. Drake lost control of his car near Honeywood. The car left the roadway, somersaulted in the ditch, and came to rest on its roof. Mr. Cowling died in the collision.

At his trial last Friday, Mr. Drake apologized to Mr. Cowling's family, and Mr. Cowling's father offered his forgiveness.

The five-year sentence came after a lengthy judicial consideration.

During the trial Mr. O'Connor said his client continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, and is undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Mr. Drake has a lengthy record of alcohol-related driving offences, including a previous impaired driving conviction for which he was under suspension at the time of the fatal accident.

Mr. O'Connor said Mr. Drake has not had a drink since the death of his friend last July.