Drunken bravado led to passenger’s death

JAIL: Stephen Scoltock

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A DRUNK-DRIVER from Oldham who killed a passenger amid claims he was showing off in a high performance car has been jailed for 40 months.

Stephen Scoltock (24) was driving 200 yards back to a friend’s party when he lost control of the car and spun it into a fence, killing Andrew Faragher.

The pair, who had met only hours earlier, and another friend, Jamie Barnes, had taken the purple 2 litre VW Golf to Counthill School car park.

Scoltock, of Greenside Avenue, was almost twice the legal limit.

Andrew, a former pupil at St Augustine’s and Our Lady’s schools, died at the scene, only a few days after celebrating his 18th birthday.

He had just completed two years at Oldham Sixth-Form College and was waiting his A-level results. He had been offered university places at Newcastle and Hull where he planned to study business management.

Scoltock had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

Graham Knowles, prosecuting, said: “There was a party and many had been drinking during the night and early hours.

“The defendant was drinking pints of cider. He and some others went into Oldham town centre and went to the Castle where they stayed until 3am.

“By now Jamie Barnes — on his own admission — had had 18 or 19 drinks. But that was not enough for him or others and there was no alcohol left at the party.

“So when Stephen Scoltock arrived back at about 4am he offered to fetch a bottle of spirits from his house.

“At some point Jamie Barnes was heard asking for a go in the defendant’s car. The defendant jangled his keys and said ‘I’ll teach you how to drive’.

“Andrew asked for a go as well. The defendant then drove to Counthill School where they took turns at driving the car. They then set off on the short distance back to the party.

“The defendant had to move to the right to pass parked cars and Jamie Barnes said in his statement ‘as we were halfway past Ste put his foot down. He was not killing it but I felt the car give a bit.

“‘As we approached the left-hand bend Ste started to drift to the right — he was going too fast’.

“Jamie Barnes and the defendant each said they had been round that bend thousands of times. It is near home for all concerned.

“What happened, it seems, was a short-lived piece of showing off. The car struck a rail and one of the sections struck Andrew, causing him mortal injuries.”

John Broadley, defending, said: “The car was Stephen’s pride and joy and he had no intention of damaging any person or his vehicle that night. But he foolishly took the decision to drive.

“When he returned to the house to get alcohol — not for himself but for his friends — he made the fateful decision to drive.

“He has never sought to shirk responsibility for this offence. The decision was taken to plead guilty - a brave decision as recognised by Andrew’s father.

“Stephen Scoltock is extremely remorseful. He will lose his liberty and he accepts that.”

In sentencing, Judge Adrian Smith said: “You were behaving irresponsibly, but the evidence is not sufficient for me to come to the conclusion that you were deliberately showing off.

“But the reality is that you approached that bend with excessive speed having consumed alcohol.”

Scoltock was also disqualified from driving for four years.