A Teenage driver who killed his best friend in a road crash has been sentenced to three years behind bars.

Arran Kennedy, 18, who only passed his driving test six weeks earlier, had smoked a cannabis joint before getting behind the wheel of his car.

When he lost control and spun off the road on the outskirts of Lewes and crashed into a tree, one of his two passengers, his life-long friend Ben Sharrod, was fatally injured.

The boys were both 17 at the time.

Kennedy wept as the court was told he heard his best friend die of his injuries.

Judge Anthony Niblett told Kennedy his excessive speed and bad driving was the cause of the accident.

He said: "I am sure your guilty plea reflects your genuine remorse of causing the death of such a close and longstanding friend of the same age."

Kennedy, of Western Road, Newhaven, admitted causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

He was sentenced to three years detention at a young offenders institution. He was banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before getting back his licence.

Phillipa MacAtasney, prosecuting, said the accident happened at about 10pm on November 22 last year when Kennedy, who was driving a Peugeot 206, was heading from Newhaven towards Lewes with two friends, Liam Goff, who was in the front seat, and Ben, who lived in Gibbon Road, Newhaven, in the back.

He passed a car driven by Brian Read, who later told police how Kennedy had been driving close behind him when he suddenly overtook at great speed on a blind bend. He was so surprised he sounded his horn and flashed his headlight at Kennedy to show his disapproval.

Mr Read slowed down to avoid driving near Kennedy as he feared the teenager would be involved in a collision. He estimated Kennedy was driving at speeds of up to 70mph in the 40mph zone.

Moments later Kennedy was seen by another couple to lose control of his car as he tried to negotiate a bend. The vehicle slid across the road and on to the grass verge before colliding with a road sign saying Welcome to Lewes and hitting a tree.

The witnesses estimated the car was travelling at up to 85mph in a 60mph zone.

Kennedy only suffered minor injuries. When Mr Read came across the crash soon afterwards, he was so angry at Kennedy's driving earlier he approached the teenager and said to him: "You are a ****ing maniac. You ought never to be allowed on the road."

When Kennedy, who has no previous convictions, was interviewed by police he described his driving night as being "a nice steady pace."

Stephen Crouch, defending, said: "He was extremely proud of his Peugeot and he liked to think of himself as a careful driver. He fully accepts he was not on that particular night. He has already been punished by the death of a life-time friend."

The court heard Ben's father Stephen Sharrod had written to the judge to explain the family showed no bitterness towards Kennedy. He said: "He is not a criminal but he made a mistake."

After the hearing Ben's mother, Sarah Sharrod-Scott, who has eight other children, said: "Myself and my family have been so grateful to everyone in our community for their support. It has been outstanding."