Disturbing details have emerged of the criminal background of the driver of a stolen car who crashed, killing himself and four teenage friends.

Barrie Mackay, 15, was part of a six-strong gang called the After Dark Crew (ADC) who operated a reign of terror in Hastings and St Leonards.

The gang gained infamy after one member, 12-year-old Stefan Gilmore, was named Britain's youngest criminal after being locked up for his part in their activities.

Gilmore, who is just 4ft tall, had already become Britain's youngest disqualified driver and the youngest subject of an Asbo.

MacKay and other members of the ADC terrorised a group of youngsters when they found them travelling home from school on a train between Battle and St Leonards.

Using the code "eats" - street-slang for easy pickings - to trigger their assault, the gang threatened three boys and two girls aged 12 to 16.

They rifled through the youngsters' bags and demanded their mobile phones. In the end, no mobiles were handed over and they escaped with just £1.50.

MacKay, then 14, was serving an 18-month sentence for burglary and theft at the time the case came to Lewes Crown Court.

Lifting restrictions banning the naming of MacKay, Judge Anthony Niblett ordered him to serve an extra six months for his part in the robbery and attempted robberies.

People who knew MacKay yesterday defended him, saying he had been portrayed unfairly since Saturday's car tragedy.

Charlene Lunnon, 16, a sixth former at Filsham Valley School, said: "He could be a little s*** but he would never get into anything major.

"People are saying he was a bad criminal but he wasn't like that. He could be a little tearaway but he wouldn't do anything to hurt no-one.

"He would just get involved in stupid stuff like robbing crisps from shops."

Friends said that Saturday was not the first time MacKay had got behind the wheel of a stolen car.

One said: "Obviously he didn't have a driving licence but he knew how to drive all right. I wouldn't have any problems getting inside a car with him."

The crash at 1.42am on Saturday killed MacKay, Kelly Goring, 17, Lee Morgan, 14, and 16-year-olds Danielle Martin and Daniel Carwardine.

Earlier on Friday night they had been drinking lager and spirits at the Church-in-the-Wood graveyard in Hollington.