Drink and drug driver Ryan Owen is jailed after killing best pal in 70mph Consett smash

Ryan Owen was twice the legal limit and had also taken cocaine before he got behind the wheel of his Peugeot 206 last year.

Just a week before the tragedy, Owen had sent a text message to his then-girlfriend saying "am not driving p***ed any more."

Police at the accident scene where Owen had driven at 70mph in a 30mph zone

The couple had argued about the subject hours before passenger Shaun Storey, 27, was killed in the 70mph crash in Consett, County Durham.

She sent a text message saying: "Would never want to have children with you when you drink-drive - dirty, dirty habit."

When she heard he was taking the car out, she said: "Enjoy cos you’ve took the p*ss now. I'm done, enjoy you alcoholic”.

Teesside Crown Court heard on Friday that 26-year-old Owen had been playing on his games console at home and drinking lager.

He refused to give a lift to a relative because he had been boozing, but later said he was going to drive to his mother's home.

It is not known when he picked up Mr Storey, because he claims to have amnesia, but they were together in the early hours.

At 1.42am on November 28 - four hours before the crash - Mr Storey was captured on service station CCTV buying eight cans of lager.

Six cans were found in the hatchback after the crash, but Owen's barrister said there was no evidence he had any of them.

When Owen's girlfriend got back to the home they shared, there were six empty cans of lager there, but no sign of him or the car.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court how the tragedy on the A692 unfolded - and how the driver tried to flee the scene.

Owen was doing 70mph in a 30mph zone, failed to negotiate a bend, hit a kerb, and the car spun three times in the air before landing.

A family living nearby rushed out, and thought both men were dead - until Owen climbed out a window and tried to flee.

He was aggressive towards police and ambulance staff, and had to be out in leg restraints and handcuffs when he got to hospital.

Defence lawyer Geoff Knowles admitted his behaviour was "appalling" but said he was in shock and had suffered a panic attack.

Mr Knowles told the court that Owen had been "crushed" by the events, and said: "He continues to mourn the loss of his friend."

Owen had been invited to Mr Storey's funeral by his family, and attended the scattering of his ashes, the barrister said.

"This goes beyond a good mate and a good friend," said Mr Knowles. "This young lad who was tragically killed was like a brother.

"He would spend Christmases with his friend and his family. He has to live with what happened for the rest of his days.

"The events have destroyed not just one life and one family, but also his and his. There are no winners, just desperate losers."

Owen, of Tweed Street, Chopwell, near Consett, was jailed for six years and nine months after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Stephen Ashurst also banned him from the roads for five years and four months - which will take effect after his release.

Judge Ashurst told Owen: "He died a violent death as a result of your selfish decision to drive when you knew you had been drinking.

"You drove your car at a grossly excessive speed. This was a very bad case of its type. Your behaviour at the scene does you no credit.

"This was driver error, and it was error by a driver who had been warned by a close friend not to drive, and you ignored that.

"The sad reality is Shaun lost his life because you - as a heavy drinker - could not contain yourself from venturing out."

In a victim impact statement Shaun Storey's sister said that she thinks about him every day - and said: "My heart aches."

Natalie Storey said they were inseparable as they grew up effectively as twins as there was only 16 months between them.

And she revealed the things which bring back memories - like his favourite songs and the cheese aisle of supermarkets.

In a statement read to the court, she said: "We were rarely apart and always getting into trouble and he always blamed me when we got caught making ‘mud pies’ on the kitchen floor with jam and cornflakes and anything else we could get our hands on.

"Even though we were so close we couldn’t have been any different and as we grew up we grew apart but we had each other when we needed it.

"To explain the impact that his loss has had on my life is hard to put into words. I think about him every day and my heart aches at the thought of my daughter never knowing her uncle who he would have adored her and she would have loved tormenting him.

"It is amazing what things bring back memories and it’s like my heart just drops like when I hear his favourite music or see his favourite TV shows. I have found myself crying in the cheese aisle in Tesco as he would have it at every meal if he could.

"I find myself just wondering why he was taken from us. There is so much left unsaid there wasn’t enough hugs or kisses and our hearts were still broken at the death of our mother, nine months prior to Shaun’s passing and I just hope they are at peace together now.”