Michael Meakin, 50, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Nicholas McEvoy in a hit-and-run in February 2014.

He was facing a maximum of 14 years over the 30-year-old's death, but NSW Supreme Court Acting Justice Peter Hidden jailed him for seven years with a four-year non-parole period.

Meakin - who was estimated to be three times over the blood alcohol limit after drinking 16 beers on the night - has been in custody since August 2016, meaning he'll be eligible for parole in August 2020.

Members of Mr McEvoy's family were not in court as Justice Hidden delivered his verdict on Friday. Meakin was emotionless.

"This is a serious offence of its kind," the judge said.

"It did not involve erratic or aggressive driving or excessive speed. However, the offender was driving while considerably intoxicated, a fact of which he was well aware.

"That course of driving clearly put members of the public at risk."

Meakin was sentenced three years ago to 24 years in jail after being found guilty of Mr McEvoy's murder.

But that was set aside on appeal before he pleaded guilty in a retrial to the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation.

Meakin had at least 16 beers during a drinking session at the Plumpton Hotel in Glendenning from 2pm to midnight.

The court heard Meakin was convicted of three drink-driving offences from 2000 to 2009, as well as being convicted for driving while disqualified in 2010.

He told a psychologist he regularly consumed seven drinks per day and described his drinking on the night of Mr McEvoy's death as "anomalous".

In her report, psychologist Laura Durkin said "he lacked insight into an alcohol problem and its significance".

He became involved in an altercation with Mr McEvoy over a game of pool in February 2014, throwing a punch which didn't land.

Afterwards, Mr McEvoy left the pub on foot towards his Quakers Hill home, while Meakin drove off in his work ute, intending to make a 20-kilometre drive to Freemans Reach.

Meakin's precise blood alcohol reading couldn't be determined as he fled following the incident, however it was estimated he was at least 0.15.

Meakin claimed he didn't recognise Mr McEvoy when he struck him, inflicting injuries including a fractured spine.

Justice Hidden said Mr McEvoy stumbled onto the roadway but Meakin was too drunk to avoid him.

Meakin drove off, initially along back streets, before parking his vehicle behind his house in an effort to avoid detection.

"He sought to protect his own interests by driving from the scene and attempting to conceal the vehicle when he got home, with no thought to the plight of the unfortunate victim," Justice Hidden said.

Australian Associated Press