A lorry driver who ploughed into three people and killed them has been jailed for 18 months.

John McConnell, 34, and Michael Menton, 36, had gone to the aid of stranded Jasmine Villarrole after her car broke down.

They were pushing the car out of the middle lane of the North Circular Road, in London, when they were hit by delivery man Bryan Lloyd, 28, of Cromwell Road, Hove.

Lloyd was driving his 7.5-ton Mercedes lorry below the speed limit at 44mph.

Ms Villarrole and Mr McConnell were hurled to one side of the van while Mr Menton was dragged down the road. All three died at the scene.

A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court, London, convicted Lloyd of three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Passing sentence, Judge David Richardson said: "Why you did not see the three people at all is inexplicable.

"Only a slight adjustment would have been needed to avoid the vehicle. Many other vehicles had gone past. You cannot have been keeping a proper lookout.

"It may be you were adjusting your stereo. That is what you said to police while you were hysterical after the incident."

The judge described the two male victims as "brave, public spirited men".

He added: "I cannot ignore the fact that your substandard driving caused the death of three people. No prison sentence I pass can bring back those three people."

After sentencing Lloyd to 18 months' jail and disqualifying him from driving for four years, the judge called for a minute's silence in memory of the victims.

James Dawson, prosecuting, said that after the accident, Lloyd stopped 30 yards down the road and told a passer-by he did not know what had happened.

John Swain, defending, said Lloyd had been driving since 1990 and had a clean licence.

He said: "It is not as if this man was driving at excess speed or erratically. It is a very difficult stretch of road and the speed limit has been brought down by 20mph there."