A DUTCH lorry driver who killed two Runcorn motorcyclists and injured a third when he drove on the wrong side of the road was jailed for six years at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

Mario Westerman, 43, who admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving, also pleaded guilty to two charges of forging his tachograph to hide the fact that he had driven without rest for up to 10 hours.

The court, however, heard that he had had two hours rest before the tragic incident at 9.20pm on April 22 on the A49 near Tarporley.

Owen Edwards, prosecuting, said the three motorcyclists were driving within the speed limit on the correct side of the road when they were confronted by the articulated lorry driven by Western, who was on the wrong side of the road on a bend.

Mr Edwards said that Mathew Chesters, 36, of Almond Avenue, Runcorn, and Robert Shaw, 40, of Crofton Road, Runcorn, were killed. The third, Gareth Chesters, sustained a broken ankle as he also struck the trailer.

Mr Edwards said the three motorcyclists had had a coffee at a Whitchurch pub that was popular with motorcyclists and had been praised by the way they rode their motorcycles by a lorry driver, who thought they were police officers pacing him at one stage.

They were particularly courteous as they overtook him and were within the speed limit.

When interviewed, Westerman at first blamed the motorcyclists but later admitted: "I have killed two men."

Mr Edwards said that Westerman was on his way to Wales after making a delivery in Stoke and had been driving for 18 years - eight in Britain.

He had forged his tachograph to hide the fact he had driven 540 kilometres in 11 hours the previous day.

Peter Horgan, defending, said that Westerman wished to express direct remorse to the families of the deceased and had suffered particular anguish because he was a keen motorcyclist himself.

He accepted full responsibility but said that pressure of work was partly to blame. His family, who sent letters to the court, had been devastated by the incident.

Judge Elgan Edwards said that Westerman had falsified his documents to drive illegally and as a professional driver, a high standard was expected.

The judge said: "This was an accident waiting to happen and sadly it cost two lives."

Westerman was also banned from driving for 10 years and ordered to take an extended driving test before his licence is returned.