AN ILLEGAL teenage driver and his friend died in a high speed crash in a car bought on the internet for £210 only days before.

Ather Ayaz, 18, lost control of the 16-year-old Honda Civic, which had been bought by Hamza Ali, also 18, on the internet.

It had been registered under the name of Adam Ali to a false address. Neither of the teenager's families had any knowledge of the vehicle.

On November 4 last year, Mr Ayaz lost control of the car in Manningham Lane, Bradford, as he sped off after causing a minor collision, killing himself and his friend Mr Ali.

At an inquest in Bradford yesterday, Assistant Coroner Oliver Longstaff said because he had not passed his driving test, Mr Ayaz had good reason to want to make himself scarce after he accidentally clipped a silver Audi A4 driven by Mohammed Mobeen in Drewton Road.

The hearing was told Mr Mobeen had briefly followed the Honda, which was travelling away from Bradford city centre, but had slowed for a speed camera and had lost sight of it before the crash occurred near the junction with Bowland Street.

The Honda spun anti-clockwise off the road before sliding sideways across a footpath then struck a bollard. The impact threw the car into the air before it collided roof-first with the corner of a building.

Mr Ayaz, of Masham Place, Heaton, and Mr Ali, of Toller Lane, Bradford, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest heard how some witnesses told police they had seen the Honda and the Audi speeding and undertaking other cars in Manningham Lane.

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Giving evidence, Mr Mobeen denied he was racing the Honda but he admitted he had pursued it for a time because he wanted to get its registration details.

He said he had slowed down when he saw a speed camera and had realised it was becoming dangerous.

The inquest heard Mr Mobeen stopped at the scene of the crash and initially went up to the car but drove off after the gathering crowd saw his car also showed signs of damage.

"I panicked. I felt I was suffocating," he said.

He then drove to a nearby street where he was found by police. He was interviewed twice by police during the investigation but both times he exercised his right not to answer questions.

Addressing the dead men's families at the inquest, Mr Mobeen said: "I am sorry for everything that has happened."

Concluding both men died as a result of a road traffic collision, Mr Longstaff said: "We will never know why he (Mr Ali) got the car and kept it a secret from his family.

"There may have been a sense of adventure behind it. Cars are vital tools in everyday life but unfortunately cars in inexperienced hands are lethal machines not to be treated as toys.

"To decide to drive one unqualified was an unfortunate decision on Ather's part and it was unfortunate his friend supported him in it."

Speaking after the inquest Mr Ayaz's brother Umar Ayaz, a car dealer, said he hoped other young men would learn a lesson from the tragedy.

"To lose a young life and put your family through such terrible pain is not worth the adrenalin surge. Don't joyride. Don't do it," he said.