AN UNQUALIFIED driver who lost control of his car at speed and crashed into an on-coming vehicle killing his best friend has been sentenced to five years' detention.

Andrew Minett, who had been drinking before the crash, was told by Judge Brian Lewis: "You were a danger to the public in that car at that time.

"Your dangerous and irresponsible driving caused the death of Tom Mackie, a friend of yours. Your driving on that occasion was a disgrace and it was aggravated by a number of serious features."

Minett, 20, of Girtrell Close, Saughall Massie, was also banned from driving for six years. He had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Ian Davies told Liverpool Crown Court that on August 25 last year, Minett visited two pubs in Wirral with friends, and collected a crate of lager before they went to the Bassett Hound public house where 25-year-old Mr Mackie was working.

Minett, who had earlier been asked by a friend to slow down, then set off with his friends driving his Vauxhall Vectra along Barnston Road at speed.

He drove aggressively right behind a vehicle and then overtook it, despite double white lines, and then overtook another car on the wrong side of the road on a bend travelling at least 60mph.

The Vauxhall Vectra braked and the rear then swung towards the kerb and slid forwards and sideways out of control.

It clipped the kerb and hit an on-coming Skoda and turned onto its roof. Such was the force of the crash that the Skoda was shunted backwards 23 metres, but fortunately the driver was not seriously injured, said Mr Davies.

Minett, who smelled of alcohol, was dazed and a passing nurse who tried to help rear seat passenger Mr Mackie found he was slipping out of consciousness. He died from multiple injuries. The two other passengers were also injured.

An expert found that the crash was caused by Minett driving too fast for the bend on a wet road. He also had defective tyres and a blood test revealed a reading between 78 and 105 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

When interviewed Minett claimed one of his rear seat passengers had pulled the handbrake on and had only been travelling at 40mph. He admitted having failed his driving test two or three times and thought he was displaying L' plates.

Defence barrister Eric Lamb said that Minett felt the loss of his best friend acutely and is ashamed and remorseful.

He has no previous motoring convictions and had been on medication for depression following the crash.