Stephen Toogood

A dangerous driver who killed two friends while racing along country roads in his sports car has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years on his 21st birthday.

Judge Alistair McCreath said he was satisfied Stephen Toogood was racing another car as his VW Golf GTI overturned, killing both passengers.

Toogood, of Smallshire Way, Wordsley, admitted causing the death of his cousin Shane Toogood and England under-21 kickboxing champion Sam Cox, both aged 19.

He was banned from driving for seven years and told to do an extended test to get his licence back.

Mr Peter Grice, prosecuting, said Toogood had owned the car for a few days and a rear tyre was badly under-inflated, which could have affected the handling.

Passenger Ryan Flavell, 18, had minor injuries. Toogood suffered a chest injury and said after that he had no recollection of the crash in Dunley Road, near Stourport, at about 3pm on May 18.

Mr Grice said a witness estimated the car’s speed at 70mph but tyre mark analysis showed it could have been 96mph. The judge dismissed a suggestion it was “high jinks at high speed.”