A TEENAGER has been jailed after the car he was driving, carrying six passengers, crashed into a wall causing ‘life-changing’ injuries to three of them.

The 17-year-old, of Antrobus, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had 'clearly been showing off' before the life-changing crash, a District Judge at Chester Magistrates Court told him.

The court heard from Michael O'Kane, prosecuting, the boy and several other youths had spent the evening of Saturday, October 17, in a park in Bartington drinking vodka.

When he got behind the wheel of the car, there was one front seat passenger, four in the back and one in the boot, before he crashed into the concrete wall of a barn on Cogshall Lane in Little Leigh at around 3.15am on October 18.

"They got a taxi to Antrobus Golf Club," Mr O’Kane said.

"While there, it was suggested they drive some of the golf buggies around the course.

"After they did this, he vanished before coming back in his own car."

The male victim described how they all got into the car, which the teen then drove 'fast' recalling how he saw the speedometer hitting more than 70mph, going around corners on the wrong side of the road.

Mr O'Kane added: "He hit the concrete wall of a barn, the impact completely obliterating the front end of the car in what was a seriously heavy collision.

"In a prepared statement given to police, the boy admitted to panicking and how he had never driven in the dark before.

"He pressed the clutch instead of the brake and that the accident was a result of his inexperience as a driver.

"He was unconscious in the immediate aftermath of the collision before he managed to roll out of the vehicle and ran off, alerting someone at a nearby farm who called the emergency services."

The male victim suffered a fractured hip and pelvis and has been told he will develop arthritis within five years, while the two other victims, both girls, suffered serious leg and arm injuries, with all three saying the memories of what happened that night continued to haunt them and cause them to live in fear.

The boy had already pleaded guilty to three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was in court on Friday, August 20, to be sentenced.

Tony Birchall, defending, said there were no winners in the case, and how his client was fortunate to be able to roll away from the vehicle, while the others had clearly suffered serious injuries.

He asked the District Judge to consider a significant community order, saying how a period in custody would do the teen 'no favours at all'.

"Although the injuries the three victims suffered are serious, they are all still here to tell the tale," he said.

"They had all been larking about and none of them could have foreseen what was about to happen.

"I imagine they all wish they could all turn the clock back.

"He made a foolish decision to drive that night.

"He can benefit from the support of a rehabilitation order. He will not cope in custody, it will do him no favours at all."

However, District Judge Sanders said it was quite clear the offence had crossed the custody threshold and could not justify a community order, no matter how significant.

District Judge Sanders told the youth it was a tragic case and a difficult one to sentence, but the number of features involved had made it worse.

He told him: "You were in a grossly over-crowded car which you were driving.

"Three people received life-changing injuries as a result of the accident your driving caused.

"There are a number of features that make this case worse, including the fact you went to get your car when you didn't need to.

"You also removed L plates to disguise the fact you were only a provisional license holder and you were driving with no license or insurance.

"You were clearly showing off during the course of your driving.

"And as the report suggests, you had also been drinking and taking the drug, MDMA."

He added: "It's not the first time you've in trouble.

"You have been subject to previous curfews and had support from the youth justice service for a period of 12 months.

"After the accident, you left the scene, leaving seriously injured people in the car.

"I am dealing with a young man who has shown reluctance to learn from his previous mistakes.

"It was just fortunate there were no fatalities in this case."

He told the teen he would be made subject of an eight-month detention and training order, with the first four months of that to be served in custody, with the second half under statutory supervision.

The defendant was also disqualified from driving for a period of 40 months and will need to pass an extended re-test before he could ever drive again.