Mother Jackie Moore said her son had always been a natural leader and regularly defended those less able than himself.

Mrs Moore, who runs her own business, said: “I always told him to be the shepherd and not the sheep; he really took to that.

“The main thing was he loved people. He had so many friends and was the anchor among them.

“He was always joking about. He was football mad.”

Mrs Moore said hoping and praying her son did not feel a moment’s pain filled her days.

She said: “At best I feel numb, at worst I wish I was dead too.

“The heartache is real and physical and drags you down to a place you did not think could exist.

“Just to have him here physically to love and hug – the longing to hold him and hear his voice again is indescribable.”

Mrs Moore said she hoped the sentence would be a deterrent to others.

She said: “Too many lives are being taken and shattered through selfish, uncaring, irresponsible drunk drivers who get into a car and drive, with no thought for others.

“There is no difference with going out with a knife or gun; all kill and maim, all shatter the lives of their victims, their families and their friends.”