100mph laughing gas driver admits killing friends

A driver who was filmed inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel before a 100mph (160km/h) crash has admitted killing three teenage friends.

Thomas Johnson was speeding when his car hit a tree in the village of Marcham, Oxfordshire, killing friends Ethan Goddard and Daniel Hancock, both 18, and Elliot Pullen, 17.

Johnson, 19, admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and is being sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.

The victims' families called him a "cocky teenage boy" who was showing off and urged others "not to be that driver who shows such disregard for their friends' lives".

Mr Hancock's family also begged people not to be "a passenger of such a driver".

"Please learn from this, an opportunity that the boys were not fortunate enough to be given," they said.

Mr Goddard's father, Robert, said: "He's ruined everyone's life, he's taken three, ruined his own life, devastated ours, just for showing off."

Elliot Pullen's sister, Mia, 20, added: "I know he's just a cocky teenage boy, I know he's not an awful person but he made some awful decisions and I really hope that he feels guilty for what he's done.

"This is his fault, he's done this, he's killed them and I hope it stays with him forever."