A YOUNG driver's inexperience has been blamed for a car crash in which one of his friends died.

Simon Dyminski, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving, arising from the crash on the unclassified road near Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, on the evening of June 4 this year just 10 days after he passed his test.

Six young men were squeezed into the VW Golf turbo diesel, one of them in the boot, when Dyminski, of Green Road, Upper Stratton, lost control and crashed off the road.

Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes was told that one of the passengers, 17-year-old Gavin Offley, from Plymouth Street, Swindon, died from his injuries.

Lois Colley, prosecuting, read from a statement by another occupant of the car, Shaun Corcoran. He said that four friends had set off to go for a drive in Dyminski's parents' car and called in on another friend. But when they arrived, they discovered that Gavin Offley had been dropped off by his parents.

The six discussed what they were going to do and Dyminski was persuaded to take all six on a drive to find a pub and sit in the garden.

As they approached Ogbourne St George, the three in the back started laughing and Dyminski looked round. When he looked back he saw he had drifted across the central line and swerved sharply to the left.

But he overcompensated and when he tried to correct the car again he went into a skid and lost control of the car, which swerved off the road.

The main impact was taken by the rear offside of the car, where Gavin Offley was sitting. The others suffered injuries including a punctured lung, broken limbs and lacerations.

A police accident report said there were no adverse weather conditions or vehicle defects that could have led to the crash. It noted that the car was not being used as per the manufacturer's recommendations although it did not say the car was overloaded. The conclusion was that the car was oversteered.

Miss Colley read out a victim impact statement by Gavin Offley's mother, Maryrose Higgins. She said that since the collision the family had discussed the incident and were agreed it was caused by the driver's carelessness. They agreed they wanted Dyminski to pay a penalty. She said: "Inexperience cannot justify the actions of the driver."

Sabeeha Khan, defending, said that most of the witness statements agreed Dyminski was driving safely. She pointed out there was no suggestion of drink or drugs being involved or of her client hiding anything from the court. Neither was speed an issue.

She said Dyminski was not happy about taking Mr Offley as a sixth passenger in the car but he bowed to pressure from his other friends.

She said: "Simon is going to have to live with the consequences of the accident for the rest of his life."

Dyminski was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £450 with £55 costs.