A CAR thief sped through a red light at 70mph and killed a motorcyclist, a court heard.

Shaun Unsworth, aged 20, bowed his head in the dock as a judge sentenced him to seven years in a Young Offenders Institute, telling him he had showed no regard for his victim.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Unsworth and his two passengers had consumed 40 cans of lager between them, and Unsworth had also drank a bottle of wine before setting off in the stolen car.

Motorcyclist Phillip Taylor, aged 38, was on his way to his home in Alt Lane, Leigh, in February. He was hit by Unsworth's stolen Rover Metro as it travelled at 70mph on the wrong side of the road through a red light.

The force of the impact catapulted Mr Taylor in the air, knocking off his helmet. He was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary suffering from multiple injuries and later died.

Unsworth, of Aneline Street, Chorley, was also banned for driving for ten years after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was also convicted of driving while disqualified, failing to stop at the scene of the accident, failing to report an accident, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.

Passenger David Hirst, aged 19, of Hilton Avenue, Horwich, was sentenced to four months at a Young Offenders Institute and banned from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.

A 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named, was sentenced to four months' detention and training and banned from driving for a year after she pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.

The court heard yesterday that the trio left the scene of the crash and did not report the incident to police.

Andrew Nuttall, for the prosecution, said the collision left Mr Taylor with no chance of survival.

Defending, Keith Thomas said the crash had left Unsworth shaken up, and he publicly apologised to the family of Mr Taylor.

Brian McKenna, for the defence, said Hirst had been asleep in the back of the car and woke up only after they became involved in the collision. He added that Hirst had shown remorse, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and was prepared to give evidence against Unsworth.

Defending the 17-year-old girl, Philip Andrews said she had asked Unsworth to slow down, but he ignored her request.

Unsworth was also convicted of arson after he set fire to a prison cell at a Young Offenders Institute in Lancaster in October last year.

Judge John Roberts said: "I am satisfied that you stole the car and you were all drunk at the time. You drove the car in a dangerous manner and showed no regard for Mr Taylor. The effects of the incident for the family and friends of Phillip Taylor is incalculable."

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Taylor's family said: "Phil's tragic death has left our family devastated. We all miss him and he will always be in our thoughts. We now face the rest of our lives with a void that cannot be filled.

"The term of sentence would never be enough for us. However, we must accept what the court has handed out. We hope that by passing this sentence no other family suffers as we have."