A MOTORIST who caused the death of a friend in a motorway accident has been jailed for three years.

Osman Akbar, 20, who admitted causing the death of Imran Yaseen, was driving a Vauxhall Vectra when it hit the back of a stationary low-loader lorry on the hard shoulder of the A1(M), Teesside Crown Court heard.

The accident happened northbound between Carrville and Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on May 12.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, told the hearing that Akbar had been driving aggressively, switching from lane to lane behind two overtaking lorries.

The court heard he then swerved on to the hard shoulder without indicating or braking and, within seconds, clipped the rear of the lorry.

Youth worker Mr Yaseen, 23, of Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, was thrown from the car and died more than a week later in hospital.

Aisha Wadoodi, for Akbar, said he accepted driving on the hard shoulder to get past two lorries. She said: "It is clear this defendant acted in a moment of madness."

Judge John Walford sent Akbar, who had previous convictions for theft and motoring offences, to a young offenders' institution for three years and banned him from driving for five years.

Akbar, of Park Road South, Middlesbrough, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Yaseen's brother, Ifzal, 27, of Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, criticised the sentence. He said: "At the end of the day, I have lost my brother and he has just got three years to show for it."