An “inexperienced and immature” motorist caused life-changing injuries to a passenger after “competitive” driving with a fellow teen ended in a horror crash.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how James Atkinson, now 20, hosted a house party for friends while his parents were away on October 14, 2017. Alcohol and drugs were consumed.

At around 1.45pm the following afternoon, Atkinson drove a Vauxhall Corsa and two passengers to Carlisle. He did so in convoy with a Mini driven by Edward Lucas.

Lucas overtook Atkinson who, on the C2049 close to Castle Sowerby chapel, performed his own overtake. As a vehicle emerged from a junction ahead, he pulled to the nearside.

“The Atkinson vehicle hit the front of the Lucas vehicle,” said Mr Evans. “That caused the Atkinson vehicle to spin and flip on to the nearside verge.”

One passenger, with minor injuries, freed himself from the Corsa. “Mr Atkinson and rear seat passenger Alex Raphael were seriously injured and trapped,” said Mr Evans. Both were freed by firefighters.

Mr Raphael suffered bruising to the brain, multiple spinal fractures, a femur fracture and 10-day body paralysis. He couldn’t go upstairs and would have a metal rod in his leg for life.

A statement detailed the “massive” life-changing impact on Mr Raphael, who stated: “The incident has basically put my education and job prospects on hold for four to five years.”

Atkinson - left in a coma - suffered a traumatic brain injury. He’d lost two-thirds of a lung and a consultant paramedic described him as an “unexpected survivor”.

Ecstasy was found in Atkinson’s system but there was no evidence this affected his driving ability. He had no recollection of the crash.

Atkinson admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Judith McCullough, defending, spoke of Atkinson’s “catastrophic” injuries, the impact on his family and his genuine remorse, adding: “He is very sorry for the injuries for the injuries sustained by Mr Raphael.”

A 14-month jail sentence was suspended for two years. Judge Davies did so because of Atkinson’s previous good character, no offences since and a lengthy case delay, and not, he stated, “as any expression of triviality on my part”.

“This is a terrible case, actually,” Judge Davies said. “You caused extremely life-changing injury to that boy, Alex Raphael. You’ll have to remember that for the rest of your life.”

Atkinson, of Millhouse, near Hesket Newmarket, must also complete a six-month night-time curfew.