A man who caused the deaths of two teens by driving at ‘grossly excessive speeds’ while racing another car has been jailed for more than 11 years.

Luke Ridley, 24, clocked speeds of up to 80mph while behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Bora on March 7 last year.

He slid on to the wrong side of the road before hitting a Ford Focus which left a family, including a three-year-old girl and six-month-old boy, in hospital.

George Turner and Mason Pearson, both aged 17, who were passengers of Ridley’s, were both killed at the scene.

A court heard, a group had gathered in a car park in central Thirsk, North Yorkshire, with three cars amongst them – Mr Ridley’s VW Bora, a Ford Fiesta and William Corser’s Vauxhall Corsa.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Ridley, of Thirsk, then began ‘racing competitively’ with his rival Corser, 18.

Ridley had only held a licence for two days at the time of the crash on the A61 between Busby Stoop and Carlton Miniott.

He was aware his car, purchased a month before, was in a dangerous state as it had no near-side front brake and the traction control was faulty, the court heard.

Ridley initially denied two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and five counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

But he changed his plea at the start of the trial earlier this month and was sentenced today to 11 years and six months at Teesside Crown Court.

Corser, of Thirsk, also changed to his plea to guilty of one count of dangerous driving at the start of the trial and was sentenced to 16 months in jail.

CCTV and dash-cam footage shows the three cars leaving in convoy, with the Corsa leading the way throughout the journey, followed in close proximity by the Bora and the Fiesta at the back.

The footage also showed an ever-increasing gap with the Fiesta, which had an RAC black box to monitor the speed limit and driving standard for insurance purposes.

The Fiesta ended up some distance out of sight by the time the fatal collision occurred.

Ridley and Corser were racing to see who could get to Leeming Bar first and drove at ‘grossly excessive speeds’ of up to 80mph, the court.

Mr Turner and Mr Pearson died at the scene after the Volkswagen Bora crashed into the Ford Focus.

Another two of Ridley’s passengers, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, were taken to hospital in a critical condition and discharged with ‘life changing’ injuries.

The 27-year-old man and the 24-year-old woman in the Ford Focus were taken to hospital and released following treatment wile their three-year-old daughter and a six-month-old son were kept in hospital for observation before being discharged.

Ridley was banned from driving for 11-and-half-years and will have to take an extended driving test if he ever wants his licence back afterwards.

Corser was barred from driving for three years and eight months and must also take an extended driving test.

North Yorkshire Police Inspector Jeremy Bartley of North Yorkshire Police, said: ‘The dangerous driving by both Ridley and Corser has cost the lives of two young men and devastated their families in the space of a few seconds.

‘I hope the sentence handed down by the court sends a stark warning to anyone who takes irresponsible and dangerous risks on the roads, either by their actions or due to the dangerous condition of their vehicle – it is simply not worth it.

‘Although both Ridley and Corser now have to face up to their actions and justice has been delivered for George and Mason, no sentence can compensate for the loss of their young lives, and the distress caused to their heartbroken families and friends.’

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