A FAMILY spoke of their relief last night after a joyrider who struck and killed their son on a playing field was jailed for ten years.

Multiple offender Dean English was showing off to young passengers at the wheel of a stolen Ford Escort after drinking one evening last November.

He clipped Ian Gourley, who was sitting with friends on a bank on the Pony Fields, in Peterlee, east Durham, before driving a further half-mile and setting the car on fire in a ravine to remove forensic evidence.

Fifteen-year-old Ian, of Lakemore, Peterlee, who was talking to friends, was declared dead from head injuries at hospital in Hartlepool an hour later.

English was arrested days later, but despite confessing to his girlfriend, refused to respond in police interviews.

He denied causing death by dangerous driving and arson, claiming he drove earlier, but got out before the accident.

English, of Basingstoke Road, Peterlee, was convicted by a jury following a five-day trial at Durham Crown Court in September.

Brought back for sentence, yesterday, the court was told he has subsequently admitted being the driver at the time of the accident, but said that he was unaware he struck anyone.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said English had not had the courage to plead guilty at the trial.

"He didn't have the courage to accept responsibility, but he now recognises responsibility.

"He was terrified of imprisonment for a lengthy period of time and was clutching at straws."

Miss Waugh said that while in custody awaiting sentence he had been dubbed a "child killer" and given a difficult time by fellow inmates.

English was once dubbed the Singing Defective by police because of his practice of singing: "No reply, no reply, no reply", to the tune of the football chant: "Here We Go, Here We Go, Here We Go", when interviewed about his crimes.

The court was told the 23-year-old had a record of 73 offences over a decade - including seven terms of custody, many for motoring offences.

Jailing him, Judge Richard Lowden told English: "You were showing off to your two significantly younger co-accused. You were driving off-road, in the dark, in an area open to the public, near a residential area when members of the public might be expected to be on that field.

"There are so many aggravating features it's appropriate for the sentence to be close to the maximum."

Passengers Shaun Morton, 18, of Robson Avenue, Peterlee, and Lee Black, of Rothbury Avenue, Horden, were sent to a young offenders' institution for three-and-a-years and two-and-a-half years respectively.

Both previously admitted aggravated vehicle taking and arson.

Ian, described as a quiet lad who wouldn't hurt a fly, was the youngest of five children of Lavinia and Alan Gourley.

Mrs Gourley said last night: "We are over the moon - very pleased he's got ten years.

"It's been difficult. I've tried to put it to the back of my mind, but it's difficult every time you go to the cemetery."

English was disqualified from driving for ten years and Morton and Black received three-year bans from Judge Lowden.