A TEENAGE motorist caused the death of a friend in a head-on collision with another car, after taking a sharp blind bend too fast, it is alleged.

David Robinson-Shields made a "serious and sustained error of judgement. As a result, he was completely on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash," Liverpool Crown Court was told this week.

The windscreen of the Vauxhall Nova he was driving came out while the head of a front seat passenger, 17-year-old Michael Tilston became jammed against the dashboard.

Mr Tilston sustained fatal brain damage and died in hospital two days later. His sister Joanne, sitting behind, suffered minor injuries and was in hospital for a few days. The driver of the Renault 25 involved, John Morris, suffered minor chest injuries.

Robinson-Shields, aged 18, of Ashlea Road, Pensby, denies causing the death of Mr Tilston by dangerous driving at the junction of Whitfield Lane and Milner Road, Heswall, at about 11.20pm on April 4, last year.

Opening the prosecution, Mr Raymond Herman told the court that Robinson-Shields and Mr Tilston were friends from school and spent the evening together.

From about 9pm they were at Mr Tilston's home in Heswall, where they were joined by his sister and listened to music.

Shortly before 11.20pm they decided to go for a drive. Robinson-Shields, an inexperienced driver, only obtained a provisional licence four months earlier and his licence the previous month.

He had the use of his mother's silver Nova almost every day.

The prosecution has to prove he drove in a way far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.

The case continues.

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