A TEENAGER who denied being the driver of a car in a crash that killed his front seat passenger has been found guilty today of causing death by dangerous driving.

Syam Khan, 19, had denied being behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Golf when it slid sideways out of control and hit a church wall in Gilpin Street, Barkerend, Bradford, on the morning of September 12, 2014.

Saliq Malik, 15, died in hospital from severe head and neck injuries.

Khan, of Kimberley Street, Laisterdyke, Bradford, had told the jury that he had been in the back seat at the time of the crash.

But after the conviction, Judge Jonathan Rose said: "You have taken the life of a young man and caused serious injuries to another in a piece of dangerous driving in a vehicle that - by your own admission - you were simply not capable of driving.

"A custodial sentence is inevitable."

During the trial, he claimed to have been contacted by phone by his friend, Haris Khan, asking if he wanted a GTi car for his sister's wedding.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

He went outside and saw a GTi on his street and walked to it.

He said the driver, who he did not know, moved his seat forward to allow Khan to get in the back, where he began to chat with Haris, who was already in the back seat.

He said he had never seen the car before, did not drive and did not have a licence.

He said he had never seen the driver before, did not get a look at his face, or speak to him, but he sounded like a young man and was wearing something black.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Floral tributes to Saliq Malik, who died after the collision

Khan said he thought the car was travelling fast before the accident, but did not know how it went out of control.

He said he was not wearing a seat belt and the impact had thrown him between the front seats. He said that when he opened his eyes, there was no driver. He managed to get out, and helped Haris out. He spoke to Saliq but there was no response.

Khan told the jury he did not make a phone call to anyone from the scene. It is alleged another car was summonsed to the scene to take him away.

Khan also pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury to Haris Khan by dangerous driving, but has now been found guilty of this offence.

He was found not guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Also found not guilty today of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice were brothers Nadeem, 29, and Yasser Hussain, 28, both of Gladstone Street, Bradford Moor; and 21-year-old Waqas Iqbal, of Florence Street, Laisterdyke.