A high-speed hit-and-run driver who killed two talented musicians while drunk behind the wheel was taken to view one of his victim's bodies to make him appreciate what he had done.

Kyle Barthram's BMW poughed into Joseph Scurfield and Keith Morris as the friends headed towards home together in the late evening on June 8 this year.

Newcastle Crown Court hearde how Barthram, 17, who had not past his test and had been drinking, lost control of the uninsured vehicle which smashed into the two men and sent them hurtling into the air due to the force of the impact.

Mr Morris had died before reaching hospital and Mr Scurfield died in the early hours of the following morning.

The court heard how despite him fleeing the scene officers tracked Barthram down to his home where he was arrested and remanded in custody after making no reply during interview.

After spending seven days behind bars the teenager was granted bail and asked if he would consider viewing Mr Scurfield's body at the request of his partner Rianne Abbink.

She made the grim request so he would be made aware of the devastation he had caused over the double death tragedy.

She wanted him to see the graphic consequences of his actions.

Barthram agreed and went with his legal representatives and police to Newcastle General Hospital's chapel of rest where Mr Scurfield lay.

Sgt Kevin Hindhaugh of Northumbria Police motor patrols in Newcastle, said: "It was a request by Mr Scurfield's partner who wanted the accused to see what he had done.

"He went with his legal representative to reflect on his action while he was on bail."

Barthram sobbed uncontrollably as he was sentenced to five years detention after he admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and having no insurance.

The court heard how the accdient happened as Barthram sped along the 30mph Westgate Road in Newcastle with his girlfriend in the car.

Witnesses described Barthram's motor as being "all over the road" with the engine revving before it began "swerving and rocking from side to side".

Prosecutor Ian Graham said: "At about 10pm Mr Scurfield and Mr Morris were walking along the pavement.

"They were walking when they were struck by a white BMW motor car being driven by this defendant.

"That car was travelling in the same direction and the car was being driven at a high speed and the defendant was over the limit for driving with alcohol.

"He lost control of the car, the rear of which mounted the nearside pavement and it was the movement along the pavement of the nearside of the car which struck the two men and caused the injuries which killed them.

"Mr Scurfield was actually thrown up into the air by the impact and landed on a grass verge nearby.

"Mr Morris was thrown a considerable distance down the road, his body coming to rest on the pavement at the next junction."

Defence barrister John Wilkinson said Barthram had "succumbed to tempation" when he picked up the car keys because he was late for a meeting with his girlfriend.

Mr Wilkinson said the driving was a"moment of madness" by a teen who has no previous convictions and was able to hand in glowing references to the sentencing judge.

Mr Wilkinson added: "I want it to go out loud and clear just how bitterly, bitterlly sorry he is for what occured and the loss he accepts he caused."

Mr Wilkinson said the teen agreed to the chapel of rest visit thinking it could have been some comfort to the grieving families.

Mr Wilkinson said: "He spent a week in custody, two nights in the police station and was then remanded to Castington.

"He was eventually granted bail after seven days.

"He got out and an approach was made about this particular aspect and he readily agreed, that was something he wanted to do it if it was going to be something that would give some comfort to the family of the deceased, indeed it was at their request he was approached.

"If anything was going to bring it home to him what he had done it was most certainly going to be that."

The court heard how Barthram fled the scene thinking he had just hit a bollard and had no idea he had caused the death of two pedestrians.

Judge John Milford lifted a ban which had previously prevented the teenager's details being printed. The judge told Barthram: "You were driving with excess alcohol in your system, you were driving at a greately excessive speed and you were driving without insurance.

"You had no licence and you should not have been driving at all.

"You caused two deaths and made off after the accident although I accept you did not appreciate you had killed anyone.

"It is a very bad case and I am satisfied no sentence other than a custodial sentence can be justified." Mr Morris, was a 52-year-old father-of-two and internationally respected jazz composer.

Mr Scurfield, 56, was a violinist with the Old Rope String Band.

They had been due to perform that night at a tribute event to Heaton poet Julia Darling who had recently died from cancer.

The musicians' deaths rocked Tyneside's music community and more than 1,000 people attended Mr Scurfield's funeral services at The Journal Tyne Theatre and a humanist ceremony for Mr Morris at Newcastle's Assembly Rooms.

Former Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Peter Thompson, a close friend of the much-missed musicians, added: "I think this is a tragedy for all concerned."

In an earlier tribute to Mr Scurfield and Mr Morris, Mr Thompson said: "Both recognised the power of music and drama to uplift and transform lives; to give a voice to the voiceless and a sense of purpose and achievement to people whose lives and opportunities were limited.

"Joe was a lifelong socialist activist who will be remembered for many years for his direct support for struggles against inequality and injustice, here and in the wider world.

"Keith was arguably the most important community musician of his generation."

Since Mr Scurfield's death, fellow band members Pete Challoner and fellow player Tim Dalling have played at pre-booked gigs, with support from their late band member's partner Dutch-born Rianne.

They are currently rehearsing with two new musicians and hope to perform again at the annual Dance for Peace and Solidarity concert, which used to be organised each year by Mr Scurfield. Mr Morris's band, Red Music, will also be reforming for the event on December 15 and Blackfriars Hall on New Bridge Street.

A tribute concert is also planned to take place at the Sage Gateshead in the new year.

Sgt Kevin Hindhaugh of Northumbria Police motor patrols said: "The defendant never showed a moment of remorse.

"He wouldn't reply to any of the questioning and he was prepared to put the families through further agony until he pleaded guilty to causing the men's deaths.

"The partners and relatives of both men are thoroughly decent people who have been torn apart by the consequences of the youth's actions.

"Neither want revenge in the extent of the punishment in the sentence.

However, they believe their lives will never be the same."

Knowing he had mowed down the friends, the teenager, who only held a learner's licence, didn't try to get help for the dying victims.

He and his 21-year-old girlfriend, a front passenger, were showered with glass in the impact.

Barthram stopped momentarily but then drove off, turning right into Elswick Row.

A witness who was sitting in his Rover car facing west on Westgate Road heard a loud revving engine and saw a white BMW travelling towards him.

He told police the BMW was out of control and all over the road with its back "snaking all over." The witness estimated the car was doing 80 to 100mph.

He saw it mount the pavement. It slid sideways down the footpath striking the two men.

He said the rear windscreen shattered and the men were thrown up in the air.

The BMW appeared to straighten up and then stall, before driving off. Barhtram's girlfriend, who has now left him, was later to tell police she thought they'd hit a bollard.

But the full horror of the situation could be clearly seen as the impact dents from both bodies were embedded in the side of the car.

Mr Scurfield's partner, Dutch-born Rianne Abbink, had asked for the youth to see his body to atone for his reckless action.

Sgt Hindhaugh said: "While he was on bail the youth went with his solicitor, and a member of his family, along with PC Ivan Brown, to view Mr Scurfield as he lay in the Co-operative premises on Westgate Road.

"He only gazed at Mr Scurfield for 10 to 15 seconds and then bowed his head as if he was resigned to what he had done.

"Mr Scurfield's partner has asked for a face-to-face meeting with the youth to talk to him about the aftermath of tragic loss of life.

"We are assisting her with the arrangements for that after the sentence. In Holland, when someone is murdered or killed the family have the right to talk to the defendant as part of the justice process and the punishment and rehabilitation of the offender."

Mr Scurfield was a well-respected life-long socialist, trade unionist and activist. He was a Musicians' Union and Equity delegate to Newcastle TUC of which he was secretary for three years.

As the creative genius behind The Old Rope String Band he was the driving force behind its nearly 20 years of touring. He was devoted to his true love, Rianne from Lochem in the Netherlands and daughter Mariza, 18.

Mr Morris' partner, Ellen Phethean, and sons Fred, 17, and Johnny, 12, are still coming to terms with his death.

When asked how she felt about the length of the sentence imposed on Barthram, Mr Morris' partner, Ellen Phethean, 53, said: "I suppose it didn't surprise me. It was what I was led to believe it would be.

"When people pick up the car keys they are not thinking about a sentence. There needs to be more preventative measures to stop young men like that ever having hold of a set of car keys."