Two jailed over teen 'racing' crash death

Two drivers who killed a teenage friend when their "competitive racing" on country roads ended in a fatal crash have each been jailed for eight years.

Joshua Walker and Ty Pettinger were both driving dangerously in separate vehicles on the B1249 towards Driffield, returning from a car meet in Scarborough, when Walker's overtaking manoeuvre on a bend ended in the fatality in the early hours of 11 June 2022.

It left 17-year-old Jack Stabler dead and two other passengers seriously injured. Mr Stabler was in the rear seat of Walker's Vauxhall Corsa at the time.

Sentencing the pair at Hull Crown Court, Judge John Thackray KC said the men's actions had left "lifelong grief and misery".

Walker, 20, of Middle Street, Kilham, and Pettinger, also 20, of Main Street, Bainton, both pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at the same court on Monday.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans told the court both men, who were 18 at the time, were earlier seen with their friends at an underground car park near Scarborough seafront, where they were doing "wheel spins and handbrake turns".

He said Pettinger had a temporary car insurance for a few hours that expired shortly after the crash and Walker had a tracking device, which was issued by his insurer, but was aware it had stopped working earlier that day.

The court heard they were driving dangerously, overtaking each other numerous times on the country road with Pettinger and Walker reaching top speeds of 80mph (128km/h) and 70mph (112km/h), in excess of the national speed limit.

Pettinger had only passed his driving test nine months before the crash, near Langtoft, while Walker received his full licence in July 2021.

"Throughout the return journey from the village of Foxholes, both defendants were engaged in competitive driving, effectively a race to the finish line, their homes at Driffield," said Mr Evans.

"Tragically, the vehicles did not reach their destination."

Mr Stabler was pronounced dead at the scene while fellow passenger Matthew Anderson suffered a collapsed lung and other injuries.

Another friend, Jake Pinkney, who was a passenger in Pettinger's car, was in hospital for nearly a month with a brain injury.

In mitigation, the court heard both men had written an apologetic letter to Mr Stabler's family and were "genuinely remorseful and devastated".

Barrister David Godfrey said, in his letter, Walker had written: "Not a day goes by when I don't think about him".

Mr Godfrey said: "He's not gone behind the wheel and and driven a motor vehicle since."

Barrister Micheal Forrest said in his letter, Pettinger, who phoned emergency services for help, had written: "I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused".

Seeing pictures of his friend every morning and night was a constant reminder of his terrible actions, Mr Forrest said.

In court, Mr Stabler's father, Richard Stabler, described his son as a popular and talented footballer and called for stricter regulations over insurance cover for young drivers.

He told the court the death of his only child was like a knife being "pushed through my heart" and he was living "every parent's nightmare".

Walker and Pettinger were each jailed for eight years and banned from driving for 12 years and four months.

Passing sentence, Judge Thackray told the pair their friend "had his whole life in front of him".

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