Death crash driver was banned

The VW Golf crossed the central reservation and hit an oncoming car

Three teenagers died in a car crash in a vehicle bought an hour and a half before the accident, an inquest heard.

Driver Jack Dickson, of Ilkeston, Derbys, who died in the head-collision in Bramcote, Notts, had been banned from driving, the hearing was told.

Passengers Matthew Elsegood, 17, from Stapleford, and Andrew Vardy, 19, also died in the crash on 6 February.

A verdict of accidental death was returned on the three teenagers at the inquest in Mansfield on Tuesday.

'High speeds'

A police officer who followed the teenager's car told the inquest he had done so because it was speeding.

He said he did not use his blue lights, but had the impression the young driver "was toying with him" because the car slowed down and accelerated away, weaving in and out of traffic.

The jury heard that the black Golf GTi was travelling at speeds of up to 80mph when it went out of control and crossed the central reservation, colliding head-on with a Nissan Primera.

An investigating officer with Lincolnshire Police said officers arrived on the scene on Coventry Lane about 20 seconds later.

The jury was told that Matthew Elsegood was the only one of the three teenagers who was wearing a seat belt.

The Nissan driver survived the collision.

'Tragic loss'

The inquest heard evidence that the car was being "followed" but not "chased" by police.

But after the hearing, Jack Dickson's half-brother Lee Thorpe said: "I believe that if it was police cars following... my brother wouldn't have driven the way he did.

"I believe there were four police cars chasing and a police van with blue lights and sirens flashing, so I believe it was a chase."

Jack Dickson's family said they were considering making a formal complaint.

The coroner Dr Nigel Chapman said it was "a tragic loss of young life".