AS he faces a possible three-year prison sentence, Marlon Daley today told of his sorrow over the crash which killed two of his friends.Daley, of Holbrook Road, Ipswich, broke his silence in the hope that, although he has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink, people would not villify him.

AS he faces a possible three-year prison sentence, Marlon Daley today told of his sorrow over the crash which killed two of his friends.

Daley, of Holbrook Road, Ipswich, broke his silence in the hope that, although he has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink, people would not villify him.

The crash which occurred just past the East Bergholt slip road on the Ipswich-bound carriageway in October last year claimed the lives of Dwayne Hasnip and Daniel Prescott.

Daley, who was over the drink drive limit at the time, now has to live with the guilt and the blame.

He said: “Everything's changed. I can't go anywhere. I get nightmares. I'm still in shock. I have been slaughtered. (People say) I had been on lots of drugs and I was way over the limit and that was not the case - I was just over the limit.”

Daley said when he was blood-tested for the level of alcohol in his system the reading measured 85 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mlgs.

“If I had done a second test I might not even have failed the breathalyser. I don't want everyone to think I was really drunk.”

Daley said all four friends shared a bottle of champagne at Route nightclub in Colchester, with him having one glass, as well as a brandy.

Not a day passes that he does not regret their decision to drive home.

“We could have all said 'we are not driving this car today'. That's the only thing we could have done to avoid this crash. That was my main mistake - to have got behind the wheel.

“When I failed that breathalyser and saw the red light I couldn't believe it. I thought my whole life was done then.

“I'm just really sorry. I can't express how sorry I am. It's with me every day. They were really good friends of mine and I loved them a lot.

“There's been a lot of blame. I don't feel I am totally responsible for what happened. We were all friends and we went out together. It was a pure accident. It is such a tragedy. I don't know what else to say. Losing two friends is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.

“I pray for Dwayne and Dan every day. I talk to them every day.

“I hope the families can forgive me in time and understand it was just a pure accident. It could have happened to anyone and I would say to people were seatbelts and take drink-driving seriously. Even one drink can get you messed up and you have to be careful in what you are doing.”

Daley said he has never sought to hide from the truth after losing control of his Volkswagen Golf at 2.50am on October 1 and careering into the central reservation before hitting a tree mound at the side of the road.

Mr Hasnip, 19, of Allenby Road, Ipswich, and Mr Prescott, 22, of Dombey Road, Ipswich, died as a result of the crash.

Daley, who said he is still on medication and goes to counselling every Monday because of the accident, paid tribute to his friends.

“Dwayne was a genuine guy and I loved him a lot. Dan was always smiling. I had a lot of feelings and love for him. I wish they were still here. They will always be in my heart.”

Daley, who has another child, Ashley, aged ten, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court last Thursday, and must return there for sentencing on April 11.

He said he has been told to expect a prison sentence.

“Hopefully it won't be more than three years. I have never been to prison. I haven't got a criminal record and I don't know what to expect. I have never lied about this situation and I have told the whole truth. "

In court last week, Judge John Devaux disqualified Daley from driving but deferred a decision on the length of the disqualification and other parts of the sentencing.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with two charges of causing death by dangerous driving, which Daley pleaded not guilty to.

Mr Hasnip and Mr Prescott's families held joint funerals at St Matthew's Church in Ipswich on October 21 last year.