A HAULAGE operator has been jailed for 18 months after one of his drivers was killed in an horrific M11 crash.

French national Francois Pierre Thoron was sentenced to prison on Monday following a five-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Thoron was the operator of a Scania HGV lorry which was being driven by one of his drivers, John Jaggs from Ruskington, Lincolnshire, who died when the vehicle collided with a stationary lorry in March 1998.

The accident between junctions seven and eight at Little Hallingbury led to Harlow tyre fitter Michael Tyler receiving serious leg injuries.

He had been repairing a puncture on the stationary lorry when the collision occurred.

Thoron, who traded as Euroreefer of Boston, Lincs, was charged with a string of offences including making false records, conspiring with other drivers and failure to ensure the safety of his employees.

He was found guilty on nine charges and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for conspiracy and six months for all the other offences to run concurrently.

FLASHBACK ? the devastating crash (c)