The son of a former British speedway champion has been locked up for killing a Bradford teenager in a high-speed car smash.

Malcolm Carter admitted causing the death of 19-year-old Paul Clarke by dangerous driving after the car they were in careered into a wall and lamppost.

Carter, 19, the son of tragic former speedway star Kenny Carter and an up-and-coming motorcycle racer himself, was sent to a young offender institution for five years and banned from driving for ten years by a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Clarke, of Chapel Lane, Queensbury, died at the scene from severe head injuries when the Vauxhall Corsa, bought only the day before by Carter, went out-of-control and crashed in Denholme Gate Road, Shelf, on June 9 last year.

The Queensbury Rugby League Club player was a seat-belted back-seat passenger in the car and was being given a lift with Carter, and his best friend Shane Moore, when the tragedy occurred.

The court heard how Carter had been driving at speeds of up to 70mph in a 40mph zone when he lost control after overtaking another car at a left-hand bend and crashed.

Today, Mr Clarke's mum, Cath Crowther, said her son could finally rest in peace a year after his death.

"I feel justice has been done," she said. "I didn't know what the verdict would be. Malcolm has never shown any remorse to us about this. We've had 12 months of grieving and knowing this case has been ongoing. It's been a nightmare. I just feel it's such a tragic waste of Paul's life but I'm relieved the court case is now over."

The court heard that when Carter, of Scammonden Road, Barkisland, Halifax, was initially interviewed by police he denied driving dangerously, claiming at one point it was "perfect".

But John Thackray, mitigating, said his client now felt extreme remorse and wished he had not bought the car. He said Carter, an apprentice air conditioning engineer in Bradford, knew he would live with the fatal consequences of the incident for the rest of his life.

Carter was due to compete for a place on the British Superbike team by racing in the Yamaha R6 Cup later this year and has also competed in speedway.

Sentencing him, Judge Robert Bartfield, said young people who buy cars, especially high-powered ones, face long sentences if they drive the way Carter did. Carter was also ordered to have an extended driving test when his ban is lifted.

His father Kenny was a former star with the Bradford Dukes speedway team and reigning British speedway champion when, aged only 25, he shot dead his wife Pam, also 25, and then killed himself at their luxury home in Bradshaw, near Queensbury, in May 1986, believing she was having an affair.

Malcolm Carter and his sister Kelly-Marie were aged two and three at the time.