DRINK-DRIVER Ashley Ogden admitted he was "wasted" when he drove the car that killed teenage passenger Daniel McHugh.

Nineteen-years-old Ogden of Westleigh Lane, Leigh, has been sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for seven years after causing the death of 15-year-old Daniel.

Ogden pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and failing to comply with the conditions of his licence, at Liverpool Crown Court in October. He was sentenced last week.

About 10.30pm on Monday, May 30, 2005, Ogden was in his Vauxhall Corsa alone on Gordon Street in Leigh, when he came across Daniel and another 14-year-old boy, who both knew each other.

Ogden, who had been drinking, agreed to give the two boys a lift to Westleigh. After dropping them off, he agreed to collect them again at 1am.

Ogden picked the boys up as arranged on Kirkhall Lane. Daniel sat in the front passenger seat. Ogden then drove through Leigh town centre, in a manner described by the 14-year-old as "too fast and dangerous".

After leaving Lord Street and joining Chapel Street, Ogden came up behind a police recovery truck. According to the 14-year-old, Ogden overtook the vehicle and shouted "come on, chase on!".

The driver of the recovery vehicle saw the car accelerate to 50mph and go through a red light at Butts Bridge. Odgen carried on travelling at high speed before stopping briefly at a house on Manchester Road in Leigh.

After stopping to get petrol, Ogden drove back along the A580 towards Leigh. As they reached the Greyhound Island, Daniel asked the 14-year-old to tell Ogden to take them home, to which Ogden replied: "I don't know why you two got in with me, I'm wasted."

Odgen then drove down Warrington Road to Butts Bridge and then turned right. He then drove at high speed and skidded left onto Holden Road, where he accelerated hard up to high speed.

The 14-year-old asked Ogden to slow down but he just laughed at the boy. A man walking home along Holden Road saw Ogden's Corsa passing him at around 80mph on the opposite side of the road. He saw the car go out of view on a left hand bend and then heard the screech of tyres and a loud bang.

The man ran around the corner and saw the Corsa, which had collided with a bus stop and a large tree. Another witnesses told police how the car actually clipped the back of her leg just before it crashed.

The 14-year-old suffered a double fracture of his leg, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He managed to get out of the car with help from people living close to the collision, but then collapsed and was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary. He spent a long period of time in hospital following the collision.

Daniel, of Okell Grove, Leigh, suffered serious injuries and had to be cut out of the vehicle by the Fire Service. He was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Ogden was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary suffering from minor injuries. As officers believed he had been drinking, a blood sample was taken and this subsequently proved positive.

On his release from hospital, Ogden was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was later charged with the three offences.