Picton told police he was driving because his female passenger, who owned the car, was too "intoxicated".

The judge said Picton had been out drinking and taking cocaine the night before, which was "part of the work culture".

He "drove straight through" Craven, who fractured his skull, and made "no attempt to brake".

The court was told Phillip Craven eventually caught up with his brother to find him lying on the pavement, "gasping and choking on his own blood".

Phillip Craven, who has since died, had prepared a victim impact statement, which was read to the court.

It read: "I felt him die there that morning.

"Brad was not just my brother, he was my best friend.

"I cannot get the image of Brad lying there on the pavement out of my head - it haunts me."

He added: "This was no accident, this young man chose to drive this car without a licence".

"He knew he had been drinking the night before and he had taken cocaine, and he still chose to drive.

"They stood and gawped at my brother while he lay dying."

Judge Paul Hobson said Picton knew he "should not have been driving".

Picton will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

However, the judge said that, due to changes in the law about to come into effect, that could be reduced to half.

Picton was also disqualified from driving for nine years and eight months.