A MAN wept in court after admitting he was responsible for the crash that killed York handyman Steve Dowson and injured four others, including himself.

Mr Dowson was the front-seat passenger in the Ford Sierra driven by Daniel David Baker, 23, which crashed into a tree on Boroughbridge Road, York, in the early hours of July 8.

Three other passengers in the rear seats, together with Baker, were taken to hospital after the crash. All were from York.

Yesterday Baker, formerly of Carr Lane, Acomb, and now of Cemetery Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, changed his plea to guilty on a charge of causing Mr Dowson's death by dangerous driving. He also admitted driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told Baker not to drive again, and warned him: "You must prepare yourself for custody." Baker was released on bail. He will be sentenced on June 18.

He cried in the dock as his barrister, Jonathan Devlin, told the court he had had difficulty coming to terms with his behaviour that night.

At Mr Devlin's request, the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Mr Dowson, 23, of Bootham Square, had been in York with his friends before the journey which ended in his death. Firefighters had to rescue four people from the wreckage after the crash.

Updated: 10:42 Tuesday, May 18, 2004