Drink and drug driver who killed his teenage passenger in crash tried to blame his victim as he lay dying
Daniel Brownlee was 'more concerned about his car' than victim
A DRUNK and drugged up driver who crashed into a tree killing his teenage passenger tried to blame his victim for the smash as he lay dying in the wreckage, a court heard.
Daniel Brownlee, 26, seemed "more concerned about his car" than his "much-loved" passenger Jordan Petherbridge, 19, who died in the horror smash in East Riding, Yorkshire in July last year.
Brownlee swore at a Good Samaritan who stopped and told dying Jordan “You were driving, weren't you mate?” as he tried to deflect the blame.
Driver Brownlee and his back-seat passenger, Aiden Porteous, were also badly hurt in the smash in his Audi A3.
Porteous climbed out of the car and called 999 with the assistance of a motorist who stopped to help at the scene.
Prosecutor Simon Waley told Hull Crown Court: "The defendant began swearing at him, saying 'What are you f***ing doing? I don't want anybody here. Leave me alone. Mind your own business.'
"Mr Brownlee told the witness not to call the police but the witness could see there was a front seat passenger who wasn't moving.
"The defendant said, 'Who the f*** has done this to my car?'
"He tried to suggest that someone must have stolen his car and that he walked to the scene."
Mr Waley added: "The witness described him as acting aggressively and specifically denying being the driver.
"He repeated this to others, who were shocked when he appeared to be more concerned about his car than he was about Jordan.
RELATED STORIES
"At one point, he appeared to be speaking to Jordan as he lay prone in the car, saying, 'You were driving, weren't you mate?'."
Jailing Brownlee, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, was yesterday jailed for seven years and banned from driving for 13 months.
Judge Jeremy Richardson, QC called his behaviour "utterly despicable".
The court heard that Brownlee had been at a party with Mr Petherbridge and Mr Porteous and had been described as "very drunk".
He was later found to be more than twice over the legal alcohol limit and over the legal limit for cannabis when he crashed into a ditch and tree in the early hours of July, 26 last year.
The court heard that Mr Porteous said Brownlee was driving "fast" and "almost losing control around every corner".
He stopped in a lay-by before around and heading back.
The speed limit was 40mph, and a witness estimated he was driving at about 70mph.
Brownlee tried to "intimidate" another driver by "racing" up behind him, then overtook him.
He veered onto the right-hand verge at the next bend before crashing into a ditch on the left.
Judge Richardson, QC said: "You killed a much-loved young man. Just think about that for a while when you are reflecting about matters in prison."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.