A 25-year-old Ross-on-Wye man, banned from driving for four years after causing a man’s death in a crash near Gloucester, has failed in a bid to get his licence returned early.

Michael Payne of Rowan Close, Ross-on-Wye, was jailed for 27 months and disqualified at Gloucester Crown Court in July 2014 after he admitted causing the death of 49 year old Stephen Grice of Drybrook, by dangerous driving.

Mr Grice’s fiancee Nula Davies was also badly injured in the crash which happened when Payne made an ’impetuous’ decision to overtake a bus on double white lines on the A40 at Birdwood.

At Gloucester Crown Court Payne, who served ten months in prison before being paroled with an electronic tag, applied to have the ban lifted immediately or shortened.

He was entitled to make the application because more than half the disqualification has now passed.

His lawyer, Gary Jones, said Payne had been a ’model prisoner’ and had achieved the trusted ’enhanced’ status allowing him to work outside the jail.

He has been living with his father in Hereford since his release and continuing his training as a plumber, said Mr Jones. But he is buying his own home in Ross and moving back there and his inability to drive is causing problems for his employers.

Judge Michael Cullum said Payne’s driving fully merited the imprisonment and the four year ban.

It was a severe penalty but a justified one and the court saw no reason to reduce the ban, he said.

He told Payne:?“I am glad to hear of your continued rehabilitation. It is to your credit that you have found work since your release.”