Young driver admits causing pal's death

An unlicenced driver has admitted causing the death of a teenage friend who was in the back seat of a car which crashed during a "reckless" ride.

Passengers had been concerned about the car's speed and asked the driver to slow down, magistrates heard. The car crashed in Gospel Ash Road, Bobbington, near Stourbridge.

James Taylor, aged 16, of Coseley, was killed in the crash.

Wayne Ellis, aged 19, of Flavell Avenue, Bilston, yesterday admitted driving without insurance or a driving licence, driving without due care and attention, and causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court.

Mr Giles Rowden, prosecuting, told the court that there were "several young people" in the back of the Honda Civic car and that Ellis was driving "recklessly and with speed."

"His friends were concerned and were asking him to slow down" he added.

The Honda collided with a grass verge and went out of control on a bend, hitting another car.

Magistrates decided their powers were not sufficient to punish Ellis and committed the case to Stafford Crown Court at a date to be set.

He was granted unconditional bail.

Today the mother of James Taylor spoke for the first time, revealing how he had overcome a severe birth defect as a baby.

Dawn Taylor, 52, of of Vicarage Road West, Woodsetton, said: "He fought so hard to get into this world, only to be snatched away suddenly in such a meaningless way".

She said his father Kevin, 43, had particularly struggled with the loss. "He was a lovely kid, very happy-go-lucky and quite quiet - though having spoken to his friends I don't think that was how they knew him," she said.

"All his friends still visit his grave and there isn't a day goes by that a fresh bunch of flowers doesn't appear."