A TEENAGER has been locked up for four years after the car he was driving ploughed into a stationary Army truck killing the passenger.

Charles Slack, 17, of Redhouses, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was travelling at speeds of up to 90mph in a bid to escape from police when his Ford Sierra car slammed into the four-tonne cargo vehicle.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the "catastrophic" crash on the A68 in County Durham sliced the car in half and left passenger Liam Amos, 15, of Escomb, also near Bishop Auckland, with fatal head and chest injuries.

Slack, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, was able to be named for the first time after Judge Peter Fox decided not to impose a ban on his identity.

He had told police that he had put his foot down on the accelerator and had not seen the Army truck despite it displaying hazard lights and a warning triangle.

The truck, part of a convoy on Army exercises, had been parked on the side of the road near Fir Tree, close to Bishop Auckland, while soldiers carried out a repair to a tyre.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, described how the Sierra, which was being driven without a licence and insurance, was swerving all over the road as it was pursued by police in the early hours of May 23 last year.

A member of the public reported it being driven suspiciously in Wolsingham which led officers to follow it.

It joined the A689 road where it continued at speeds of between 70mph and 75mph.

When it reached the Harperley Hall roundabout police activated their blue flashing lights, and saw the Sierra take a right turn towards Fir Tree at increasing speed.

About half a mile along the road it crashed into the back of the Army truck.

Michael Collins, for Slack, who suffered only minor injuries, said: "He cannot undo what took place on that sad evening, but what he can do is to show his remorse and acceptance of responsibility."

After the case, Liam's mothjer, Caroline Amos, 42, of Dunelm Chare, Escomb, said: "Losing Liam has been very difficult for the whole family, but I'm pleased Charles Slack admitted everything so that the court case didn't drag on too long.

"Liam has paid for that night with his life and we'll all suffer for the rest of ours, so four years in a young offenders' institute doesn't seem long enough, especially if he gets out sooner."