AN 18-year-old man accused of killing a schoolgirl in a car crash was not driving dangerously, a court heard.

Naomi Ashman, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire was a rear seat passenger in Lee Leonard's Citroen Saxo car when it left the road and crashed into a tree, killing her, on May 7, last year.

Her family had thought the 12-year-old was baby-sitting with a friend on the night of the crash, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mr Leonard, of Marton Moor Road, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, is accused of causing Naomi's death by dangerous driving, a charge he denies.

The prosecution alleged he was showing off in his car when he lost control of it on the B1257 Great Broughton to Helmsley road at Clay Bank.

Then 17 years old, he had passed his driving test eight days before the accident.

Miss Ashman had been travelling in his car with her friend while two other girls were travelling in another car driven by Mr Leonard's friend, James.

Yesterday, Mr Leonard's barrister, Stephen Ashurst, in submissions to the jury, said evidence by some of the witnesses was flawed.

He said: "They have embroidered the account, they have exaggerated it. Some of the girls have told lies about what happened.

"The family will feel desperately let down if they have been spun a tale."

Mr Ashurst said there was no credible evidence that his client had driven dangerously.

The trial continues.