HARROWING images of a car wreckage in which a 22-year-old motorist died will be used to deter youngsters from repeating the mistakes that cost him his life.

Glenn Robinson was over the drink drive limit and had been speeding without his headlights on when he crashed his car near Easington Colliery, County Durham.

A police officer in an unmarked patrol vehicle spotted Mr Robinson’s Citreon Saxo at around 11.35pm on February 10 and, because of its speed, turned to pursue it.

The next time he saw the car it had already crashed through a barrier next to the B1283 Station Road, between Easington Colliery and Horden. Mr Robinson, from Shotton Colliery, died of head injuries at the scene.

PC Nigel Craig, of Durham police’s collision investigation unit, today (Wednesday, July 17) told an inquest that Mr Robinson had been out with friends during the day and alcohol and cocaine were detected in his system.

PC Craig said a taxi driver parked near the scene recalled Mr Robinson’s car travelling on the wrong side of a central crossing reserve before spinning out of control, hitting a kerb and landing upside down.

Tests revealed he was driving 68 to 76mph shortly before the accident.

Deputy Coroner Crispin Oliver, sitting at Crook, County Durham, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Robinson’s family has decided to allow police to share pictures of the wreckage with youngsters through the Wise Drive road safety programme.

In a statement, the family said: “The loss of such a young life, in such tragic circumstances, is one we have seen repeated a number of times recently in our area leaving numerous families devastated.

“Young people will always make mistakes, but Glenn has paid the ultimate price for his, and we know that his actions were completely out of character.

“The devastating damage caused to Glenn’s car is to be shown by the police, with our agreement, to youngsters in the hope that it can influence a generation, and go some way towards saving another family from the unbelievable nightmare we have been placed in.

“We can only hope that some young person reading this will just think twice before taking those risks and making those mistakes.”

They described him as ‘vibrant, fun loving, kind and thoughtful’ and said his loss has had a huge impact on the family from which they will never recover.