TWO young tearaway drivers who caused a devastating crash in which a family of four were injured – two seriously – are behind bars.

Ellis Punshon and Rickylee Smith, both unlicensed drivers, pleaded guilty to a series of charges which arose from the collision, on the basis that they were not racing but “keeping up with each”.

But Judge Christopher Prince said there was little difference and added: “You two were using cars as if they were toys and people who use cars as toys and overtake for what they see as the fun of it and drive dangerously and put others at risk, as you standing there now, their liberty at risk, as well...

“A clear message needs to get out, particularly to the young people in County Durham, if you drive dangerously expect it to have consequences, and in particular expect to go to custody.”

Both defendants were at the wheel of Vauxhalls, heading in convoy on Chilton Lane, near Ferryhill, on Sunday, December 3, overtaking cars at 50mph on a 30 limit road, when Punshon is said to have lost control of the Corsa he was driving.

He crossed the central white lines and ploughed into an oncoming car containing a family of four who were on their way for a day out skating at Wynyard Park.

The woman in the front seat of that car and her 12-year-old daughter, a back seat passenger, were both treated for extensive injuries and spent a fortnight or more in hospital.

The daughter went to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and the mother to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Judge Prince said: “Mum couldn’t even comfort her daughter. The father has had to make a psychological recovery from dealing with the crash, as has their eight-year-old son.”

Punshon, 18, of Colridge Road, Chilton admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, while Smith, 19, of Hereford Drive in Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to a single count of dangerous driving.

Both also admitted driving without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.

Lewis Kerr, mitigating for Punshon, said he had expressed sincere remorse and accepted he should not have been behind the wheel.

Liam O’ Brien, representing Smith, said his client was extremely sorry to have caused such devastation to the family.

He added: “These offences arise from flawed characters, immaturity and arrogance.

“The arrogance seems to be shared by the small minority of drivers who simply think 'I can drive like this and get away with it'.

“They think it will never be them involved in the accident, arrested by the police or cause serious injury to completely innocent members of the public.

“The one small silver lining is that these two young men will now know for the rest of their lives that they cannot drive like this. It is not acceptable. They are not invincible.”

The court heard Smith previously passed his test, but was banned for failing to provide a specimen.

Punshon, who had not even had a driving lesson, was banned after a conviction for careless driving.

Judge Prince said: “So the question is: ‘Why did you go out and buy the car?’

“You have pleaded guilty on the basis that you were not racing and you will be sentenced on that basis, But you were tearing around together in a convoy.

“You both made the decision to get those vehicles and drive them as you did.

“You are perfectly prepared to put your lives at risk and content to put other peoples’ lives at risk.

“You went around the streets of County Durham that afternoon with no regard for anyone else’s safety.”

Punshon was sentenced 31 months in a young offenders’ institution and banned from driving for 39 months, while Smith was ordered to serve eight months and banned from driving for 16 months.

Both will have to sit an extended retest for a licence.