A DRINK-driver who crashed his car, killing a friend sitting in the front passenger seat, has been sentenced to three years youth custody.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday that the mother of victim Sammy Parker, 21, did not blame Paul Burnham for the tragedy.

Burnham, 20, was more than twice the legal alcohol limit for driving when he smashed into another car in Chatham, on October 29 last year.

The 20-year-old and three other passengers were injured, one of them seriously.

Nina Ellin, prosecuting, said Burnham was driving his Peugeot 106 along Luton Road at about 2am when he hit a Mitsubishi Shogun driven by Mark Shackleton.

Mr Shackleton had pulled over to let the Peugeot pass, but Burnham veered across the road and disappeared under the Shogun’s bonnet.

Mr Shackleton’s air bag "exploded" and the car was shunted through 90 degrees. "He was able to get out of his vehicle relatively unscathed," said Miss Ellin.

Bhavesh Jetha came out of a nearby kebab shop and saw that Mr Parker, who he knew, was not wearing a seatbelt. Mr Jetha later said that one of the passengers complained: "I told him to slow down."

The prosecutor said none of those in the car, including Burnham, were wearing seatbelts.

The emergency services tried to resuscitate Mr Parker, of Wordsworth Close, Lordswood, but he died from chest injuries.

Burnham suffered a shattered left thigh, broken ribs and a gash to his head. Of the other passengers, Billy Carter was the most seriously hurt with a cracked pelvis, severe bruising and cuts. Luca Cutrupi escaped with cuts and bruises and Stephen Miseldine needed 30 stitches.

The friends had been to various pubs and ended up at the S Club. Burnham said he had drunk four pints of lager, two vodkas and two or three alcopops.

Miss Ellin said back calculation was used to determine the level of alcohol in Burnham’s blood at the time of the accident.

It was estimated that he was driving at about 42mph in a 40mph zone.

Burnham, of Beaconsfield Road, Chatham, admitted causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.