THEY were the closest of friends and next-door neighbours - but now one is serving a prison sentence for causing the other's death.

The teenage pair were riding two unroadworthy motorcycles without lights on a dark and rainy country lane when the bikes crashed into each other, prosecutor David Garnett told York Crown Court.

Kevin Marshall, 19, of Brackenhill Lane, Brayton, died at the scene near his home.

His neighbour, Jamie Karpow, 18, pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous riding and riding without insurance.

"This case is an absolute tragedy," said Karpow's barrister, Michael Greenhalgh.

"The loss of this life will be with him for ever. It is not something he can dismiss from his mind easily. He feels a terrible sense of responsibility in relation to this matter."

Karpow was jailed for two years, banned from riding or driving any vehicle for five years and ordered to retake his driving test.

Judge Stephen Ashurst told him: "It must have been obvious that driving with no lights on that filthy Saturday night would be potentially dangerous and you must have realised that if you struck another vehicle or another road user, the consequences could be quite dreadful."

He praised the dignity of both teenagers' families and the sensitivity of the Karpow family in selling all Karpow's motorcycles and donating the proceeds to a charity supported by Mr Marshall's family. Mr Greenhalgh said that had been done so that Mr Marshall's family would not see motorcycles in their neighbour's driveway. The fatal bike cost Karpow £30.

He added that the tragedy could have occurred the other way round, with Karpow dead.

Before Karpow was charged, Mr Marshall's mother, Susan Martin, pleaded that the charges should "deter other people from riding unsafe motorcycles."

Mr Garnett said that Karpow had bought a bike on 25 March for off-road use. After nightfall, in dark, rainy conditions on a mutual friend's motorbike, Mr Marshall rode off down narrow Brackenhill Lane where even two motorcycles would have difficulty passing.

When he did not return after five minutes, Karpow went in search of him. The two bikes, both without lights, crashed into each other. An accident investigator estimated the closing speed at 44mph.

The judge said the evidence did not give definite speeds.

Mr Greenhalgh said Karpow had broken his jaw in two places in the crash, dislocated his ankle, which still caused him walking difficulties, and he also needed skin grafts on his leg and back.