A 19-YEAR-OLD drink driver -- who had never had a driving lesson -- crashed his car into a taxi killing three people, including his 15-year-old step-brother, a court heard.

Aaron O'Reilly, from Whitefield, who was estimated to be two-and-a-half times over the legal limit after drinking vodka, was sent to a young offender's institution for four-and-a-half years.

He admitted causing the deaths of his step-brother, 15 year-old Aaron Croft; taxi driver Khalid Ejaz, who was a 44-year-old father of 10, and mother of two Stella Shaw, aged 53.

Furious relatives of victims of the crash jeered from the public gallery as Judge Lindsey Kushner QC sentenced O'Reilly.

There were shouts of "Some justice" and "He'll be out in two years".

Judge Kushner QC told Bolton Crown Court the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving was 10 years.

She said: "No doubt the families will feel a sense of outrage and will say it should be a life for a life, but that is not how we operate here."

She told O'Reilly: "You were an unqualified, inexperienced driver, uninsured and had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol. At the time of the accident, you were estimated to be two-and-a-half times over the legal limit.

"Three people who should be alive today are now dead, including your own step-brother whom you had known since he was a young boy."

The accident happened after O'Reilly had been drinking vodka and other spirits at his father's house in Whitefield.

He took a Ford Sierra from his father's driveway, taking his step-brother with him.

Witnesses reported seeing the car travelling at speeds of up to 90mph on the wrong side of the road.

Seconds later, the car crashed into the taxi in Bury Old Road, Prestwich.

Aaron Croft and taxi driver Khalid Ejaz were both killed instantly. Taxi passenger Stella Shaw was still alive and was treated in an ambulance, but died shortly afterwards. Her husband Michael survived.

O'Reilly, of Grange Road, Whitefield, admitted causing the deaths of the three victims by dangerous driving on March 17 last year. He also admitted drink driving, driving without a driving licence and driving without insurance.

He was banned from driving for five years.

Prosecutor Martin Smith said the collision took place 200 yards north of the junction of Bury Old Road with Scholes Lane at Prestwich. The Ford Sierra had been driven in a southerly direction by O'Reilly while the taxi was being driven towards Whitefield.

The Sierra crashed head-on into Khalid Ejaz's taxi which was carrying Michael and Stella Shaw.

Mr Shaw told police he and his wife had been celebrating his birthday at the Moston Social Club in Moston on Kenyon Lane. They were taking the taxi to their home in Prestwich.

He said he saw the Sierra approaching at speed and saw the offside and then nearside wheels leave the road.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in severe pain. He recalled speaking to his wife before she was taken from the taxi and later his son Stephen told him she was dead.

When he was interviewed, O'Reilly admitted having drunk vodka and spirits at his father's house, but could not remember much the accident.

He admitted he had never had a driving lesson, was not insured, had not driven the car before and was not familiar with the roads where the accident happened.

He could not tell police when he had had his last drink and said: "I was just daft, I'm just so sorry to the people who have died."

Defending, Stephen Meadowcroft said O'Reilly had started drinking at 14 when three members of his family had died.

He read from letters O'Reilly had wanted to send to the bereaved families saying there had not been a day pass without his thinking about the accident and the grief he had caused.

He wrote: "I understand that my actions are unforgiveable and I am really sorry for this tragic accident,"

Judge Kushner QC said that taxi driver Mr Ejaz was a happily married man with 10 children with ages ranging from six to 23 and was regarded as a happy and deeply religious man, highly regarded by his workmates at the taxi company.

She said Stella Shaw had been married for 33 years and had two adult children and four grandchildren whom she doted on.