Jail for high-speed crash driver

Mr Thompson died after being thrown from the Mini Cooper

A 20-year-old motorist has been jailed for eight years after killing one of his passengers in a high-speed crash.

Mark Houghton had been driving a Mini Cooper at more than 100mph on the A66 near Workington before it hit a grass bank, Cumbria Crown Court heard.

Andrew Thompson, 27, died when he was thrown from the vehicle. Four other passengers in the overloaded car were also injured - two seriously.

Houghton, of Main Road, Flimby admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Passengers Daniel Morton, 26, from Workington, and 14-year-old Jade McDowell, of Distington, were so badly hurt they needed three weeks of specialist intensive care.

Both are still in wheelchairs and are unlikely to make full recoveries, the court was told.