Antonio Grixti.

A British man was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail after he was found guilty of causing the death of a Maltese man on a quad bike in 2012.

Justin West, 43, was convicted of the involuntary homicide of quad biker Antonio Grixti, dangerous driving and causing damage to three other vehicles when he crashed his rental car in St Andrew’s Road in St Julian’s, while drunk, on June 16 that year.

Mr Grixti was the first victim of a quad bike.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri sentenced Mr West to two years imprisonment and suspended his licence for three years. Mr West was also ordered to pay almost €2,000 in court expenses.

The incident took place when Mr Grixti, who was 60, stopped his quad bike to make a turn into the side-street leading to High Ridge, close to the site where the Forum Hotel once stood.

Mr West was driving a hired Peugeot 107 and smashed into the quad bike, sending it crashing into an oncoming vehicle. He failed the breathalyser test.

Mr Grixti was going to visit one of his siblings when the accident took place. His crash helmet came off with the force of impact and he suffered severe head injuries. He died a few hours later in hospital.

Police inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.