Teen guilty after 'racing' deaths

A Loughborough teenager who left two friends dead by the road after a bumper-to-bumper race has been warned he faces a jail sentence.

Dean Cholerton, 18, of Hermitage Road had been racing along public roads with his friend Paul Millar, 17.

Mr Millar's car went into the path of an oncoming vehicle, killing himself and a friend in July 2003.

Cholerton, who had no licence, denied the charges but was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Oncoming vehicle

The pair had first raced around the Dishley area of Loughborough, Leicestershire, before heading out of the town towards a 'car meet' in Nottingham, the court heard.

They had travelled only a few miles when Millar careered across the A6 and into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The teenager and rear-seat passenger Graham Campsell, 19, died at the scene of the smash.

Cholerton fled the scene of the accident within minutes.

Judge Ian Collis adjourned sentence until 2 July and granted Cholerton bail, but warned he faced a custodial sentence.

Racing denied

The jury heard how Cholerton and Mr Millar, who was also unlicensed, reached speeds of up to 80mph before the crash on the night of 20 July 2003.

The teenagers' "excessive speeds and erratic driving" led to the crash as Cholerton attempted to overtake Mr Millar on a sharp bend.

Marks on the road showed Mr Millar's car was totally out of control when it hit a Nissan Micra driven by Eleanor Yaxley, whose passengers were badly injured.

The prosecution said Cholerton fled the scene and was tracked down two weeks later, when he admitted having no insurance but denied he had been racing.

The teenager denied causing the deaths of Mr Millar, of Knighthorpe Road, Loughborough and Mr Campsell of Rupert Brook Road, Loughborough by dangerous driving.