A DRIVER who caused a horrific crash which left one of his best friends with brain damage has avoided a jail term.

A court heard how no prison sentence could punish Stewart Wilson, 27, of Meadow View Walk, Canvey, more than he was already punishing himself.

His close pal Stewart Day, 29, of Blackthorne Road Canvey, is still in hospital almost a year after the smash.

Sentencing Wilson at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Philip Statman gave him 240 hours unpaid work and 36 weeks in prison, but suspended the sentence for two years.

He said: “I am sure your remorse from the outset has been genuine and total. Everything I have read about you indicates to me you are a thoroughly decent, hard- working member of the community.”

Wilson was driving Mr Day and another friend to Kent for a weekend away on April 24 last year when the crash happened.

The Ford Escort he was driving collided with another vehicle when Wilson went to overtake a truck.

The court heard Wilson, who was an inexperienced driver, had made a terrible mistake. He was also banned from driving for three years.

In mitigation, Stephen Nelson said: “There is no sentence that could punish him more than he is doing himself.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Wilson’s mum, Elaine, praised the dignity of the Day family.

She said: “Not a day goes by when me and my son don’t think of them. When your family is responsible for giving another family grief the burden is enormous. We feel so helpless and so useless.

“They told the court they didn’t wish for Stewart to be punished any more than he already had because there was no point. They have been so dignified.”

Mrs Wilson, who also lives in Meadow View Walk, said her son was a broken man following the accident. The two men had been friends for more than ten years and often went on holiday together.

She added: “Nothing the court could have handed out would take away how he feels about his friend. If he could change places with Mr Day he would have done so.”