A banned motorist who carried a dying teenage friend away from the scene of a road crash was today beginning a six-year sentence behind bars.

Sam Pennington, 19, dragged the bleeding girl from the wreckage, put her over his shoulder and carried her for a mile in a bid to avoid getting blamed for her fatal injuries.

When Pennington was approached by police he repeatedly lied to try to get out of trouble.

Jennifer Field, who had just celebrated her 18th birthday, died the following day in hospital.

At Lewes Crown Court yesterday, Judge Richard Brown told Pennington he had been selfishly seeking to save his own skin and he had no alternative but to send him to a young offenders' institution.

The teenager was also banned from driving for five years.

The judge said: "You drove in a dangerous manner and because of that Jennifer Field died and her family and friends have been devastated.

"You left the scene. You were selfishly seeking to save your own skin.

"You had no thought for her welfare and when apprehended you told lie after lie to avoid responsibility.

"No sentence this court can pass can ever reflect the value of the life that has been lost or the grief inflicted on the family who lost a loved one."

The crash happened when Pennington lost control and rolled his Rover Metro at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, on the night of August 22 last year.

He had driven Jennifer and two other friends for a visit to the popular clifftop beauty spot and after spending time chatting and listening to music they set off home at 10pm.

Pennington admitted becoming distracted by his friends "mucking about" and took his eyes off the road for a second.

The Metro, which he bought for £50 a week earlier, skidded into a bank and rolled over.

Pennington and his two other passengers escaped with minor injuries. But Jennifer, who was wearing a seatbelt and sitting in the back seat, was fatally injured.

Pennington, of Southdown Avenue, Hastings, denied causing death by dangerous driving and two charges of perverting the course of justice but was convicted on all charges by a jury following a four-day trial in July.

Jennifer, of Old London Road, Hastings, was described by her family as a generous, kind and bubbly girl who loved Manchester United.

After Pennington was sentenced her mother, Kim, said she was still waiting for the teenager to apologise for his behaviour that night.

She said: "I would have given him life. He has not shown any remorse and we are still waiting for an apology."

She added: "We still miss Jennifer so much."

The court also heard Pennington had been caught driving while disqualified after the crash and was sentenced to five weeks behind bars in June.