A lorry driver who killed an Ilford pensioner in an M25 pile up has been sentenced to almost five years behind bars today.

Ronald Moughton, of Lowbrook Road, died on April 2 when his Renault Clio was one of many vehicles involved in an accident caused by Anton Maizen.

The 58-year-old German lorry driver was sentenced to 56 months in prison at Basildon Crown Court, and was also disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to pay a £125 victim surcharge.

The crash happened on the clockwise carriageway of the M25 near Aveley in Essex and Maizen pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous dricing at the same court in July.

The pile up involved four lorries and six cars and two other people were seriously injured - Mr Moughton’s 59-year-old son Keith and Carol Boulton, 47, from Basildon. Both are recovering at home from their injuries.

Essex Police said Maizen had driven 840 miles from Germany and had been at work for 23 hours straight - 15 of those without a break.

He was arrested at the scene and was unable to explain why he struck the back of the queue at his maximum speed of 56 mph.

Senior Investigating Officer, Insp Keith Whiting of Essex Police, said: “We believe drivers and owners of foreign and British commercial lorries will take note from this tragic incident that those who disregard the law and the safety of vulnerable people in smaller vehicles around them will be brought to justice, face a prison sentence and a lengthy disqualification.

“We also believe that people who were disrupted for several hours as a result of this crash will appreciate that the complex and meticulous investigation undertaken by Essex Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit was justified and has successfully brought a driver to justice for causing one death and serious injury of two other road users.”

A 43-year-old lorry driver was also arrested at the scene but he was released without charge.

Maizen will have to take an extended driving test to regain his licence.