A DRUNKEN footballer, seen "driving like an idiot" before he killed two young boys, was jailed for seven years yesterday.
Luke McCormick was twice the drink-drive limit when he smashed into a car carrying six people, killing brothers Ben and Arron Peak.
The former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper was jailed for seven years and four months at Stoke Crown Court after p
leading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.
The boys' parents, Phil and Amanda Peak, said outside court they were pleased McCormick, 25, had "decided to face up to the fact" he had caused the deaths of their only children.
But the couple, who are unable to have more children, expressed disappointment at the fact that he will be eligible for parole in three-and-a-half years.
"He will restart his life when he is still a young man. Our sons will never experience the things Luke has had," they said.
Arron, ten, and Ben, eight, were travelling to Silverstone racetrack for a dream day out with their father and three friends when their Toyota Previa people carrier was hit by McCormick's Range Rover on the M6 in Staffordshire at 5:44am on 7 June.
Police estimated McCormick's vehicle was travelling at 97mph moments before the crash.
Mr Peak, 37, from Partington in Manchester, was at the wheel of the Toyota and suffered serious injuries. He is now in a wheelchair and wears a neckbrace and may have to undergo surgery.
McCormick was returning from former team-mate David Norris's wedding in Bolton, when the crash occurred.
McCormick was seen drinking beer and downing shots of Sambuca liqueur at the wedding reception.
CCTV footage showed him leaving the Ramada Jarvis hotel at 4:32am. He ignored a telephone plea from his room-mate, Paul Maxwell, a physiotherapist, to stop driving immediately and pull over at a service area.
John Jones, QC, defending, said that McCormick covered 68 miles in one hour and 12 minutes and that his petrol tank was almost empty when the collision occurred.
McCormick kept his head bowed and covered his face with his hand as it was revealed he told eyewitnesses at the scene: "I am so sorry, I just fell asleep."
Before the collision, other motorists noticed McCormick "driving like an idiot" and estimated his speed at about 90mph.
In a victim statement submitted to the judge, Mr and Mrs Peak told how their lives had been "totally devastated" by the death of their sons.
The couple said: "Our whole lives have been shattered… all our hopes and dreams for the future have been taken away from us."
McCormick was also disqualified from driving for four years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Speaking outside court, Sergeant Steve Robinson, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Luke was clearly driving excessively. He was driving dangerously and he was tired. He was also under the influence of alcohol. All these factors made Luke's driving quite horrendous."
McCormick's contract with Plymouth Argyle was cancelled by "mutual consent" a month after the crash.
