Shropshire lake death crash driver locked up for two and a half years
A teenager from Shropshire was today beginning a two-and-a-half year stint in a young offenders' institute for killing his friend after losing control of a car and plunging into a lake.
Max Parker's car crashed at Patshull Park last August, killing passenger and friend Ben Henshaw, 16, from Alveley.
Parker, 19, of Greenway Avenue, Alveley, near Bridgnorth, was given the sentence at Stafford Crown Court yesterday after previously admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
The plea was entered at Stafford Crown Court on the basis that Parker knew the vehicle's rear offside tyre and brakes were defective.
He also received a five year driving ban with the requirement to take an extended test before getting his licence back.
The court heard today that Parker knew his rear offside tyre had a slow puncture which he had been re-inflating when he felt it was necessary.
His brake pads also had deteriorated to the extent it was "metal on metal" and there was a grinding noise when he used them, said Miss Joanne Barker, prosecuting.
She said investigators believed the car was not road worthy at the time of the crash.
The accident happened in the early hours of August 6.
The court heard that Mr Henshaw, from Alveley, was in the car with his friend Parker and Parker's girlfriend Laura Montana.
Parker and Miss Montana both freed themselves after the crash at the hotel grounds near Pattingham.
When Mr Henshaw did not appear to have escaped, Parker jumped back into the water to try and find his friend.
Ms Nicola Bell, defending, said Parker was a man of previous good character and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Miss Barker, however, told the court how the tragedy had taken its toll on the family of Mr Henshaw.
His younger sister Sarah, now 12, gave a statement read out in court saying how she missed her brother and going into his room made her upset.
His father Timothy said the circumstances of his son's death played on his mind every day.
He said Mr Henshaw's birthday in October and Christmas had passed since his death.
"All the family could buy him was flowers," he said.
His mother Trudy said further insult had been caused to the family by Parker posting an insensitive piece of music album artwork on his Facebook profile showing an album called The Deep End.
Ben, who was described by friends and family as a "cheerful and popular" teenager, died just weeks before he was due to pickup his GCSE results at Oldbury Wells School, in Bridgnorth.
He had been due to start an apprenticeship later in the year.
Ben was a keen cricketer and played for the junior sides at Alveley Cricket Club. Passing sentence, Judge Michael Challinor, said: "This exercise is no attempt to place a value on Ben's life.
"To lose a child is perhaps life's greatest blow. Our greatest sympathy goes to those left stricken by Ben's death."
To Parker he said: "The harm you have caused cannot be over stated."
