A motorist has been jailed for killing a war veteran after hitting him with his car.

Tarkan Agca, of Crusader Way, Watford struck ex-Royal Marine Andrzej Szaruta with his BMW in June last year on the A303 in Wiltshere.

Mr Szaruta, a decorated war veteran from Bridgwater, Somerset, was driving his wife and daughter to London for a belated Father’s Day celebration with his son, Christian on June 21, 2019.

Agca, 24 had been tailgating Mr Szaruta's silver Mercedes for some time while driving along the eastbound carriageway of the A303.

The two drivers pulled over on the slip road exit for Solstice Park near Amesbury. Mr Szaruta walked towards the BMW to speak to the driver.

But Agca had accelerated into him, causing Mr Szaruta fatal injuries.

He then drove off at speed along the eastbound carriageway.

Mr Szaruta, 63 was flown to hospital but died from his injuries two days later.

Agca was arrested in Watford the day after the collision. His car was later found abandoned in a nearby town.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December, admitting his role in the death of  Mr Szaruta.

He was remanded in custody and on Friday, January 10 was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to 16 years in prison.

Five years will be served on licence. He was categorised as a dangerous offender; which police say will help further protect the public by putting in place strict guidelines around his eventual parole and management upon release.

He was also banned from driving for three years upon his release and his BMW will now be destroyed.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren Hannant, from the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team, said: "Agca is a dangerous offender, who had a history of road rage and previous convictions for similar crimes elsewhere in the country.

"I have no doubt that he poses a risk to the public, so welcome the decision to put him behind bars for a significant length of time.

"This was an horrific crime, made all the more distressing by the fact that Mr Szaruta's wife and daughter were in their car at the time of the incident and witnessed him being struck by Agca's vehicle and then left fatally injured on the road.

"My thoughts are with both of them, along with his son and their wider family, at the end of what has been a difficult and traumatic process."

In a statement released by Christian on behalf of Mr Szaruta’s family, he said: "During a distinguished career in the Royal Marines he served in the Falkland's, Bosnia, and two tours of Northern Ireland flying helicopters after joining the Army Air Corps as part of his service. Even after being shot down during one of his tours in Northern Ireland he continued to serve his country for another 10 years.

"Our family was always his priority, particularly after spending so much time away in the Marines.

"He always supported us tremendously, in particular in my racing activities, where he would take time off of work to drive for hours to various race circuits across the country, even coming home from holidays abroad early to do so, just to be there and support me.

"He was a thoughtful and loving husband to my mum and would always go out of his way to help others. He took this with him to the very end, changing three people's lives for the better through organ donation, something which gave us some great comfort in knowing.”