A TEENAGE driver who killed a nurse and badly hurt her husband when his car ploughed into them has been jailed for four years.

Georgina Harris, 52, was walking towards a bus stop near her home in Scarborough at 4pm on February 25 with her daughter, Samantha, and husband, Michael, who had previously suffered a stroke, said David Hall, prosecuting.

The 17-year-old driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, lost control of his Ford Fiesta as he sped down the quiet residential street at 58mph, nearly twice the speed limit.

The Fiesta mounted the pavement at 90 degrees to the carriageway and crashed into the couple before smashing into a house.

York Crown Court heard the youth had never had a driving lesson, had been in court just hours earlier on an assault charge and had previous motoring convictions.

Mr Hall said that Mrs Harris died in hospital as doctors operated on her. Mr Harris, 54, had a broken jaw and other injuries.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told the youth: "As a result of your criminal and selfish act of driving, you have taken Mrs Harris's life, you have seriously injured Mr Harris, you have deprived him of his main carer and sole source of income and you have destroyed the harmony of a family, not to mention the considerable damage you caused to the house into which you crashed."

He jailed the teenager for four years, banned him from driving for five years and ordered him to take an extended driving test before he drives unsupervised again.

The 17-year-old from Scarborough, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Hall said the youth fled the scene immediately after the crash in Overdale, Scarborough, and had to be tracked down by police.

For the youth, Jonathan Devlin said he was deeply remorseful and sorry for what he had done.

Updated: 10:30 Friday, May 02, 2003