A shattered family have described the loss of their son in a car crash as 'unbearable'.

The driver of the car 17-year-old Tom Graysmark was in was jailed for four years today (Friday) for causing his death.

Anthony Farmer, 27, was trying to overtake a van on a bend in the B2231 Lower Road, near Brambledown on the Isle of Sheppey, when he collided with a Rover 75 coming the other way.

Tom was the front seat passenger in Farmer's Peugeot 106 and was pronounced dead at the scene on August 14 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Tom, who attended Cheyne Middle School in Sheerness and Minster College, planned to join the Army.

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Patience QC said it was important to understand that the jail term should not be seen as putting value on the teenager's life.

"The value of his life is incalculable," he said, "The affect of the loss of it continues to have devastating effects upon the lives of so many who cared for him."

Farmer, of Sanders Court, Minster, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was banned from driving for six years.

Also in the car at the time were Farmer's three-year-old son and his sister's boyfriend, Ryan Bland.

The child escaped unhurt but Mr Bland, 22, suffered two broken legs, a broken right arm, fractured pelvis and a ruptured spleen.

The driver of the Rover, 64-year-old Leslie Pierce, suffered a fractured chest bone while his 67-year-old wife Margaret's injuries included a broken wrist and dislocated thumb.

Farmer himself had to be flown to hospital by air ambulance suffering from chest injuries.

The court heard Farmer was driving his friends and young son from Leysdown to Sheerness, having visited Tom's sister. They were travelling in convoy with other friends in the van.

Another vehicle was between the Peugeot and the van when Farmer decided to overtake both vehicles near the former Elm Tree pub.

Speaking after the hearing, Tom’s family said: "Since losing Tom, our lives have changed through no choice of our own. Living without Tom is unbearable.

"Not only has Tom’s death affected our lives, but the whole family, friends and anyone else that knew him.

"There are no words that can describe the feelings, the pain and the hurt that we all feel, it is indescribable.

"Tom had no control over his life that night, the driver of the car was responsible for the lives of his passengers. His actions and stupidity resulted in Tom’s needless death.

"Whatever happens there will be no justice for us or for Tom."