A judge has condemned a drug dealer who mowed down and killed a “hero” pensioner after driving having taken crack cocaine and heroin.

Jonathan Cockroft was jailed for nine years at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for the “devastating collision” that fatally injured 77-year-old Lawrence Moore.

Cockroft was on his way to sell his Class A drugs stash when he hit Mr Moore who was walking to a nearby fish and chip shop to buy his supper. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Cockroft: “You killed a gentleman referred to as a hero by his family.”

The judge added: “He did not know as he set off that approaching him was you, having taken crack cocaine and heroin – a self-confessed professional, full-time, drug dealer.” Mr Moore, of Beldon Lane, Wibsey, died in hospital three days after he was struck by Cockroft’s red Nissan Almera in Beacon Road, Wibsey, at 6pm on November 5 last year.

Cockroft, 40, of Brighouse and Denholme Road, Queensbury, was on a drugs run and had smoked crack cocaine and injected heroin three hours before. Witnesses at the accident scene described him as “spaced out” and he was unable to walk in a straight line.

Cockroft pleaded guilty to causing Mr Moore’s death while under the influence of drugs, driving uninsured and possessing heroin and crack cocaine.

Prosecutor Jeremy Hill Baker said Mr Moore was crossing the road on his ten minute walk to the chip shop when Cockroft failed to see him in time to stop.

Cockroft tested positive for Class A drugs and told the police he was a professional dealer on his way to deliver drugs. He had three wraps of crack cocaine and one of heroin that he tried to swallow.

A victim impact statement from Mr Moore’s son Nigel told of the family’s devastation at their tragic loss. Cockroft was on bail at the time for possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

In mitigation his barrister, Richard Wright, said he wanted Mr Moore’s family to know how sorry he was. “He is not seeking mercy or a light sentence or any sort of excuse for his behaviour.”

Judge Durham Hall said Cockroft had been dealing drugs for six years in the Queensbury area. He was in a car provided by his drugs bosses so he could “peddle death.”

“Mr Moore was literally mown down because you were unable to avoid a momentous and devastating collision,” the judge said.

He branded it “a serious and deadly offence” and said he was sending out a message that villains who killed heroes while under the influence of drugs would receive long jail sentences.

In November last year, Nigel Moore told the Telegraph & Argus his father decided to walk to the chip shop at Beacon Road because his car battery had gone flat.

He said: “He was a big family man, very proud of his grandchildren and who looked after mum superbly. He would do anything for anyone.”

After the case, Sgt Carl Quinn, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “We welcome today’s result because it takes a dangerous driver off the county’s roads. Cockroft had little or no regard for road safety.”