A FESTIVAL-GOER so high on drugs he was 130 times above the drug drive limit has been jailed after killing his friend while travelling home from a music event.

Christopher Backhouse, 26, had a toxic and potentially fatal level of drug MDMA in his blood – but he still offered to drive pals, including Alexander Baron, a 270 mile lift home from Hampshire’s Boomtown Fair to Scarborough.

The level of drugs in his body was the highest reading North Yorkshire Police officers had ever seen – 130 times the generally accepted safe level of Ecstacy.

Mr Baron, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics after the crash on Monday, August 11, 2014, at 3.30pm, which saw the car leave the carriageway of the A64 near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and landing overturned in a ditch.

Backhouse was charged with causing death by driving while unfit through illegal drugs and was sentenced at York Crown Court today (Friday, April 15.)

He has been jailed for two years and banned from driving for three years.

The friends had spent the weekend at a music festival in Wiltshire where Backhouse went on a drug binge.

He then decided to drive home to Burniston, Scarborough, with Mr Baron and some other friends in his Renault Clio, while still intoxicated.

Traffic Constable Zoe Billings: "Backhouse was well aware of the concoction of drugs he had taken over the weekend - the gamble he made very sadly resulted in the death of a young man."

"The amount of drugs found in Backhouse’s system was simply staggering – the highest reading our force has ever seen.”

She added: "The length of sentence given to Backhouse should act as a warning to those who choose to take drugs and drive – North Yorkshire Police are equipped to detect drug drivers and remain committed to removing those that pose a threat to law abiding drivers from the roads."

The family of Mr Baron said: “Alex was the youngest of our three sons, he was enjoying life to the full having only returned from Australia a few weeks before his untimely death.

“Alex was very popular and had grown up to be a thoughtful and helpful young man, evident by his charity work.

“Initially we thought it was an “accident”, however as the police investigation progressed it became clear things were very different.

“To learn the driver had been found with a very high level of an illegal substance in his system was difficult to comprehend, the thought of someone being so irresponsible infuriates us.

“We understand this was a group of friends returning home from a weekend away together and we take some comfort from the fact the driver has acknowledged responsibility for our son’s death.

“The new drug drive laws were not in place at the time of Alex’s death, but to learn that the driver’s level was in excess of 100 times the new drug drive limit shows the severity of his ways.

“Alex will not be forgotten by any of his friends and family who loved and cared for him so very much.”