A "BOY RACER" was driving at speeds of up to 100mph when he crashed near York and killed a teenage passenger, a court heard.

Simon Paul Adams was today starting a three-and-a-half year jail sentence after causing the death of 16-year-old Charlotte Jackson.

York Crown Court heard Adams' Peugeot 306 - overloaded with six people - burst into flames after veering off the A64.

Earlier witnesses saw Adams "put his foot down" and hit 100mph near Grimston Bar.

The 22-year-old driver hit his brakes as he approached a vehicle that had legally pulled into the outside lane.

The defendant tried to take evasive action, but lost control. His car span across both carriageways before flipping over and plummeting into a ditch.

Charlotte was thrown into the middle of the road. A HGV driver used his vehicle to protect her from passing cars.

The Hull teenager, who did not know Adams and dreamed of joining the Army, never regained consciousness and died in hospital four days later.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told Adams' his "irresponsible" driving needlessly stamped out a life "full of promise".

He said the jail sentence and a five-year road ban reflected society's "abhorrence" at his behaviour.

After the verdict, Charlotte's uncle, Carl Moss, said no sentence would be long enough to compensate Charlotte's grieving family. "For me, he could have got life because we have lost Charlie," he added.

The court heard Adams' dangerous driving on June 15 last year was not an isolated incident.

Peter Moulson, prosecuting, said witnesses on the day of the crash and 24 hours earlier had seen Adams driving like a "boy racer", "showing off" and taking risks.

Adams picked up Charlotte from Pocklington, where she joined a group heading for a shopping trip at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at Fulford, near York.

Mr Moulson said on the road to Pocklington, Adams was driving like an "idiot", using the wrong side of the road on bends.

Moments before the crash, a retired PC watched a blue car indicate then pull out ahead and overtake a horse box. He then saw the defendant "flash" past in the right hand lane before brake lights came on.

Nicholas Barker, mitigating, said his "shy" client showed genuine regret for Charlotte's family.

"The events of June 15 will remain with him for the rest of his life," he said.

Adams, of Mill Falls, Driffield, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, February 03, 2004