Boy Racer Jailed Over Teenager Death

11 November 2013, 17:50 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Northumberland mechanic's been jailed for 8 years over the death of a teenager who was a passenger in his car.

22 year old Martin Li was driving at speeds in excess of 130mph near Hexham on August 25th when he lost control and collided head-on with another car.

18 year old Lucy Duggan was a passenger in his turbo-charged vehicle - she suffered fatal internal injuries and 4 other people were injured.

Li was described in court as a speed obsessive - several youtube videos he'd uploaded show him driving erratically on several occasions.

The judge at Newcastle Crown Court said

"You have blighted the victims' lives and in particular that of Lucy's father. No sentence I can possibly impose today can begin to compensate them for the loss of their loved one who will occupy their thoughts indefinitely. You killed someone needlessly and selfishly and if it haunts you for the rest of your life no one will shed a tear or deem it fitting."

Lucy's parents Ralph and Barbara and her brother Jack have released this tribute:

"The devastating accident that took our wonderful daughter has rocked our world and shattered so many precious dreams. Lucy loved life and lived it to the full, her constant smile brought sunshine into the lives of all she met. She lived her life in full confidence that everything would be OK and we have tried to draw from her positive outlook to get us through. The support that our family, friends and the wonderful community we live in have shown us, has been amazing and given us great strength. Lucy was always there when we needed support and we have been left feeling helpless without her.  May the sunshine in her outlook of life give us all strength to carry on without her."