THE family of a tragic teenager killed in a head-on smash had been duped into buying a written-off car, it has emerged.

Rebecca Learoyd, 18, died along with her best friend Megan Robinson, 19, and much-loved grandmother and community stalwart Anne Peachey, 60, following a high-speed collision with boy racer Jak Parker’s high-performance MG ZR in Shotton Colliery, east Durham, on June 23 last year.

Parker, 24, of North Road, Wingate, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to twelve-and-a-half years in jail in October.

Today (Monday, December 15), Durham Crown Court heard Marjorie Learoyd had bought the Fiat Punto Rebecca was driving without knowing it had been written off.

Ralph Brown and Anne Stidwell, who sold the vehicle for £4,990, pleaded guilty to fraud and will be sentenced in January.

Prosecutor Simon Reevell stressed the condition of the Punto did not cause the tragic accident.

Brown and Stidwell ran a legitimate business buying written off vehicles and selling on parts, the court heard.

But on this occasion they fraudulently sold the Punto privately via the Gumtree website, pretending to be selling a car belonging to their daughter.

They said the car was in mint condition and lied about its mileage.

The fraud came to light during the investigation into the triple fatal crash.

Both Brown, 58, and Stidwell, 56, of Leasfield Drive, Meadowfield, pleaded guilty to fraud.

Stidwell also admitted a second, similar charge; again relating to a Fiat Punto, this time sold to a woman in the south of England for £5,350.

Carole Goodwin, representing the couple, said it was a very sad and tragic case and they wanted to pass their deepest regrets to Miss Learoyd’s family.

However, Judge Christopher Prince said he did not accept the sentiment, as the couple had lied throughout.

The best way to show remorse would have been to admit their offending at the earliest opportunity rather than today (Monday, December 15), when the case was listed for trial, he said.

The judge adjourned sentencing until Friday, January 23, to give the probation service time to prepare reports on the couple, but warned Brown and Stidwell they may be going to prison.