Death-crash driver gets six months

John Hirst, 16, who lost control of the stolen car he was driving and killed Brian Crookes, 51, a father of four and a grandfather, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to six months in a young offenders' institution. Hirst admitted causing death by reckless driving.

Because of Hirst's age, the judge said that the maximum term he could impose was one year, but he halved that because there were no 'aggravating features'. Members of Mr Crookes' family said that they were appalled at the 'lenient' sentence.