Warehouse worker Simon Watts, 24, of Cinque Portds Street, says he cannot forgive himself for her death and sometimes goes to church to light a candle for her.

Lewes Crown Court heard how he had downed eight pints of lager on the night, in June last year, that he ploughed into Sally as she cycled home after a shift at the Mermaid Hotel in Rye, where she worked.

Mrs Lofill, of Meadow Way, Fairlight, was hurled 54 metres by the force of the impact and died at the scene.

Watts then fled, crashing his powerful Mercedes car into a ditch a mile away.

Sally, 50, who was born in China, was a familiar figure cycling from Faiurlight to Rye in bright yellow safety gear.

Dozens of people contacted the Observer to say how shocked and sad they were by her death.

Prosecutor Alan kent told the court Watts had downed two pints of lager while watching England play Brazil in at the Pipemakers pub last summer.
He then drunk six pints of lager at the town's Horizons nightclub before getting behind the wheel and driving to Hastings to buy cigarettes.

Watts, of Cinque Ports Street, admitted causing death through carless driving while following the accident on June 1 last year.

In a statement, Watts said: "Words can't express how sorry I am for what I have done. I feel an immense sense of pain and sorrow.

"I know my actions have caused the death of Sally Lofill and I will never forgive myself for what I have done. I wish I could turn the clock back but know that sadly I can't.

"I think about her every day and what she was like. I sometimes light a candle for her in church and hope that she has at peace.

"There is a blackness within me that will never leave and my life has been changed forever."

Jailing him, Judge Richard Brown also banned Watts from driving for five years and until he has passed an extended re-test.

He told him: "No sentence this court can impose can ever reflect the value of a life lost. It can't start to reflect the devastation caused to family and friends of the deceased.

"On this occasion you were well over the limit and described by various people as being very drunk.

"This offence is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified."

See Friday's Rye Observer for full story.
Do you have memories of Sally you would like to share.
If so contact Andy Hemsley on 01424 856781 or mail to andy.hemsley@trbeckett.co.uk