Youth detained over crash that killed friend

A TEENAGER learner driver who took his mother's car while drunk and caused the death of a friend in a crash was sentenced to detention for four years and eight months yesterday.

Liam Allan, 18, had been drinking at a party and was almost double the legal alcohol drink-drive limit when he sneaked the keys to the car out of his house and offered a lift home to four friends.

He began to show off and repeatedly jerked the steering wheel so that the car swerved from side to side. The passengers screamed at him to stop, but Allan lost control of the car and smashed into a wall. Daniel Boyle, 18, of Elibank Street, Riddrie, Glasgow, was killed and the other passengers were injured.

Allan, of Lethamhill Road, Riddrie, also admitted causing death by dangerous driving on 22 August last year, and driving without a licence, without insurance, and taking away a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Simon Whyte, the defence solicitor-advocate, told the High Court in Edinburgh: "This matter has deeply impacted on him. He is greatly remorseful for the tragic consequences of his actions."

Judge Lady Dorian said this was a particularly serious case of its kind, aggravated by Allan's rocking the steering wheel, being an unqualified driver, and being under the influence of alcohol.

"You continued to drive, despite the obvious distress of your passengers," she said.

"Your reckless actions have affected the lives of many people, including your own."

She told Allan that the sentence would have been seven years, but would be discounted because he had pleaded guilty.

Allan was also banned from driving for ten years.