Nine years for death crash duo

Dennis Watson, left, and Roderick Kirk were driving

Two teenagers who caused the death of a friend during a high-speed road race have been sentenced to a total of nine years' detention.

Dennis Watson and Roderick Kirk were pupils at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh at the time of the accident which claimed the life of classmate Steven Gatenby.

They had been driving at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour as they returned from a lunchtime trip to a restaurant in Dumbarton.

Racing motor cars on a public road is completely unacceptable and will result in severe penalties being imposed

Lord Osborne

Lord Osborne described their actions as "quite disgraceful and utterly and completely irresponsible".

The pair had both passed their driving tests only weeks before the accident on the A82 Glasgow to Inverness road in November 2000.

Watson and Kirk were convicted of causing Mr Gatenby's death by driving dangerously at excessive speeds between 80 to 105 mph and taking part in "a race of speed".

They were sent to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentence by the sheriff at Dumbarton.

Watson, of Abercrombie Street, Helensburgh, was sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institution, while Kirk, of Shore Road, Garelochhead, was ordered to serve four years.

Close together

They were also banned from driving for 10 years.

Advocate depute Alan Turnbull QC said the two youths, who are now aged 19, had driven to Dumbarton with friends during a lunch break.

On the way back to Helensburgh they were seen driving very close together on the dual carriageway at speeds of up to 100 mph.

The pair were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh

When Kirk passed Watson's car he responded by speeding up and flashing his lights.

Kirk swerved to straddle the carriageway in an attempt to prevent his friend overtaking, but Watson lost control of his vehicle.

Mr Gatenby, 17, was thrown from the car after it left the road and hit a wall. He died shortly afterwards from his injuries.

Another passenger, Lindsay Dougan, suffered severe injuries to her left arm.

Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Osborne said: "It is quite plain that this case represents a tragedy for everyone involved."

Justice done

He told Watson and Kirk: "Driving as you did, on a public road where there were other vehicles present and when both of your cars contained passengers, was quite disgraceful and utterly and completely irresponsible.

"It must be understood that racing motor cars on a public road is completely unacceptable and will result in severe penalties being imposed.

Mr Gatenby's mother Lorraine said that justice had been done.

"I am just relieved it is all over and we can try to rebuild our lives," she said.