A car crash passenger who suffered brain damage said he and the driver "were still good friends".

Ben Steward, 21, urged a judge not to send 23-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick to prison, but his plea was in vain.

Mr Steward, who spent two months in hospital, added: "Matt has said sorry. He has never done anything like this before. It was a boys' night out that went wrong."

Mr Steward told Judge Philip Clegg he was still recovering from his brain injury and caused laughter in court when he said: "There was not much there anyway."

The driver and his three passengers were injured after the car went out of control and somersaulted into a farmer's field.

All four victims were hurled from the car, said Sherry Dalesandro, prosecuting at Basildon Crown Court. She added there was evidence Fitzpatrick had a combination of alcohol and ecstasy in his bloodstream.

Fitzpatrick, of Rowan Way, Canewdon, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having a car in a dangerous condition.

In jailing him for six months, the judge commented: "You drove aggressively and far too quickly." Fitzpatrick was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Published Thursday July 15, 2004

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