A teenage learner driver who accidentally reversed into his mother and killed her as she begged him not to drink drive has been jailed for a year.
Lewis Foster, 19, arrived home drunk after a row with work colleagues and got behind the wheel of his car, despite having no licence or insurance.
Deborah Jones, 47, followed him to the Citroen Saxo she had bought for him for Christmas and begged him not to drive because it would 'ruin everything' if he was caught.
But as he revved the engine, the car jerked backwards, crushing her against a fence post under the wheels, a court heard.
Foster, who was 18 at the time of the horrific accident on July 12 2012, was later found to be nearly twice the drink drive limit. He admitted causing death by driving carelessly under the influence of alcohol and driving without insurance.
Foster, of St Austell, Cornwall, was yesterday jailed for a year in a young offenders' institute.
Philip Lee, prosecuting, told Truro Crown Court: "It is apparent from the evidence that from time to time, mother and son argued and shouted at some times and there was anger between them.
"But it is also apparent that they did have a close and loving relationship."
Piers Norsworthy, defending, said any punishment dished out to Jones was insignificant in comparison to the 'lifetime of mental torture' he faced.
He added: "At the time of the incident this young man was in a very dark place - no rational thought would have gone through his mind.
"He is a decent young man who has not always had the best start in his life, but he certainly loved his mother very dearly, as she did him."
Judge David Ticehurst told Foster: "The words tragic and tragedy are often misused these days but there is no escape of the fact that this is a tragic case with a tragic result for everyone involved.
"You, Lewis Foster, will carry the burden that you killed your mother by your careless driving for the rest of your life.
"Nothing that I say or do could add to the sense of guilt that you feel and that you will always feel.
"You were only 18 at the time the offence was committed, I take into account that it was a momentary lapse. Whether your foot slipped off the clutch does not matter a great deal.
"It was not a prolonged period of driving but it was reckless, completely thoughtless, without any regard to what may happen.
"Had you spent a moment or two thinking about the situation, had you not been so drunk, had you not been in a temper, you would not be here."
Foster was jailed for 12 months and disqualified from driving for four years.