A MOTORIST has today been jailed for three years after the driver he was racing died in a crash.

Father-of-one Steven George, 32, of Hordley Street, Burnley, had admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report an accident after entering the "unspoken challenge" with John Suthers, 34.

The pair did not know each other, but began racing after George's Subaru Impreza, had travelled at "grossly excessive speeds" and too close to the "souped up" Vauxhall Nova being driven by Mr Suthers.

Shocked witnesses spoke of the pair racing at up to 90pmh for 1.2miles along the 40mph stretch of Manchester Road, Clowbridge, on October 20 2006.

They said the driving was "crazy" and was more akin to a race track.

One witness told police that what he had seen made him feel sick to his stomach.

Mr Suthers, who had moved to Kirkwall in the Orkney Isles in 2005 but had been back in Lancashire visiting his Rawtenstall family, lost control of his 170 brake horsepower vehicle and crashed into a Land Rover Freelander head-on.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, but George had sped off, Burnley Crown Court was told yesterday.

George sobbed in the dock during the sentencing.

As well as being jailed, he was banned from driving for five years and told he must take an extended re-test before he can drive again.

The judge also ordered the Subaru be confiscated.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt said : "For John Suthers' actions he has paid the ultimate price. No sentence can take away the pain his family must feel."

She told George, who had clean driving record, he would have to live with the fact he contributed in the victim's death.

After the case, Mr Suthers's family released a statement saying they understood he played a part in his own death after entering into a "dangerous and stupid challenge".

The statement, which expressed their thanks to the police for their support and the investigation, said: "No matter what the sentence given to Steven George it will never bring back John, a loving son, brother and uncle."

Tim Brennand, prosecuting, told the court that at about 10.30am, Mr Suthers was driving towards Burnley.

It was showery and the road was damp.

Mr Brennand said a police expert examined the crash scene and said Mr Suthers had lost control on the approach to a right hand bend due to excessive speed.

However, he observed that the Nova had a worn front nearside suspension damper that may have had a detimental effect on its handling if the car was being driven aggressively or at speed.

He estimated the speed of the Nova on impact as between 54 and 63 miles per hour.

The court was told the Subaru had superior handling qualities that allowed it to remain on its own carriageway.

George was arrested an hour after the smash from information given to the police.

Philip Curran, defending, said George used to drive 600 miles a day in his job and never received a single speeding ticket.

Mr Curran said: "The defendant is only too well aware it could have been him and not Mr Suthers who could have been the victim.

"At the end of the day if the situation was reversed he would not wish to see Mr Suthers in the dock."