A TEENAGER who killed his friend in a car accident has been jailed for 30 months.

Police said Andrew John Burrell, 19, was twice the drink-drive limit when he crashed his Vauxhall Corsa into a tree in July last year.

Nineteen-year-old Kelly Woodward, one of four passengers in the car, died at the scene of the accident at Marsh House Avenue, Billingham.

Yesterday, at Teesside Crown Court, Burrell, of Dorset Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.

At an earlier hearing he had denied causing death by dangerous driving, but changed his plea.

The court heard how, in the early hours of July 16, last year, Burrell was giving his passengers a lift home from a house-warming party. He had passed his test two months previously, and had bought the car a month before for £500.

Simon Reevell, prosecuting, said a witness saw the car go past him, revving its engine while the clutch was depressed, on the 30mph stretch of road.

He said: "He heard he what he described as a bang. The vehicle had failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and hit a tree.

"It is likely over-harsh steering caused the loss of control, maybe as a result of the car having clipped the kerb."

Police estimated the car was travelling no less than 53mph dropping to 20mph on impact.

Miss Woodward was killed when the tree crushed the rear passenger side where she was seated. Another of his passengers, Claire Dewar, suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg and pelvis.

Robin Denny, mitigating, said his client was of previous good character and said he had not been showing off.

He said: "He's totally devastated by the loss of his friend and the emotional injuries and pain he's caused and wishes to publicly apologise to the victims and their respective families."

In sentencing Burrell to 30-months custody, Judge Les Spittle, said: "What happened was tragic, a young life was taken and nothing can replace that.

"The sentence is not a measure of the consequences of what you did, but it's a punishment for what you did."

Last night, a police spokesman speaking on behalf of Miss Woodward's mother, Janet, said she was satisfied the matter had been dealt with by the Criminal Justice System.

He added: "She is, however, disappointed that the person responsible for her daughter's death did not accept the charges that were put to him before today. The sentence that the driver has received today can never match the life sentence that Janet received on July 16, last year.