MOTORIST Barry Smith has been sentenced to 100 hours' community service for dangerous driving moments before a car crash in which three people died.

Magistrates were told that Smith's driving did not directly cause the crash that killed five-year-old Tamara-Jayne Sheppard, from Compton Bassett, and Craig Dicker, 23, and Adam Lumley, 21, both from Melksham. Mr Dicker's parents live at Downlands Road, Devizes.

But Amanda Sawetz, prosecuting, said Smith's driving on the day of the accident last July had been dangerous.

Smith, 21, unemployed, of The Down, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving at a hearing on November 9, and sentencing was adjourned for reports.

Miss Sawetz related to North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham on Monday December 4 the account of Smith's passenger David May.

Smith was driving a Peugeot 309GTi on July 25 on the A350 towards the West Ashton crossroads when he saw a Toyota MR2 ahead and accelerated after it at about 60 mph. Ahead of them a small car behind a tractor pulled out to overtake, followed by both the MR2 and Smith's car.

The driver of the small car reported both the MR2 and Smith overtook him once he pulled in, the Peugeot accelerating and travelling very close behind the MR2. Smith and the MR2 stopped at the traffic lights at the crossroads, but accelerated away when the lights changed.

Smith quickly accelerated to 50mph a car's length behind the MR2.

Then they saw a large blue lorry coming towards them, and a Mercedes pulled out to overtake the lorry.

The MR2 braked fiercely, with smoke coming from all four wheels as it skidded down the hill. But it veered across the road and was in collision with a car belonging to Tamara-Jayne's family, who were travelling directly behind the lorry.

Mr Dicker and Mr Lumley, who were in the MR2, were killed. Tamara-Jayne's seven-year-old brother Ben suffered severe spinal injuries.

Miss Sawetz said Smith chasing the car in front, his speed, and the distance from the MR2, as well as overtaking the tractor near the brow of a hill made his driving dangerous. But his driving was not peristently dangerous that day and the speed was not grossly excessive.

John Elliot, defending, said Smith's driving had not caused the fatal accident. "Had there been a clear connection between my client's driving and the aftermath of the terrible accident and unfortunate loss of life to three people, my client would have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving," he said.

Mr Elliot said Smith was devastated by the accident and had sought medical advice to help him cope with the trauma.

Smith was ordered to undertake 100 hours' community service, and was disqualified from driving for 15 months.

He will have to take an extended driving test before his license is restored.

Army officer Major Giles Stibb, 42, of Chipping Norton, is due to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at Swindon Crown Court.