A CAR thief who was a passenger in a car that mowed down and killed Bolton cyclist Crompton Cornthwaite has been jailed for just 21 months.

And at Manchester Crown Court the judge himself complained of being restricted on sentence because of the defendant's age.

Judge Michael Blackburn said yesterday: "Members of the public, knowing the details of this case, may think courts are fettered when they learn the maximum sentence is two years.

"I certainly think so. There are so many aggravating features here and you and the driver both had drink," he told Scott Williamson in court. Williamson, aged 17, of Sefton Road, Swinton, was in the speeding car which killed Mr Cornthwaite, 44, of Springfield Road, Kearsley.

The car then hit another vehicle, seriously injuring the passenger.

Williamson admitted aggravated vehicle taking resulting in death, and was jailed for 21 months. He was banned from driving for two years.

Last month the driver Lee Harrison, 20, of Lightoaks Road, Irlam, was jailed for eight years and disqualified for 20 years.

A witness to the accident on the A666 in Clifton said Harrison and Williamson were laughing and pedestrians were terrified by the swerving car's speed.

David Toal, defending, said in what was an "appalling" case there was little which could be said to minimise the tragic outcome.

However, the court was told that Williamson when "things were getting out of hand" he had shouted at Harrison to stop.

Bolton Council are considering creating a cycle pathway in memory of Mr Cornthwaite who was a special needs teacher at Deane School and the son of a former Bolton councillor.

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