A judge has slammed the three friends who were involved in the driving that killed teenager Max Lewis for showing no remorse.

Judge Tim Mousley QC made the comments as he was jailing Dan Palmer, Connor Forrester and Julian Drew for their roles in the horror smash.

He said "I have also looked to see if you have expressed any remorse: I have to say on behalf of each of you this morning that I have not heard a word of remorse at all.

"It seems to me you have very little thought for the feelings of the Lewis family," he told Swindon Crown Court.

Palmer, 23, of Bowmans Court, Melksham, was jailed for 18 months after he admitted death by careless driving and was banned from the road for two years and until he passes an extended test.

Forrester, 19, of Meadow Road, Melksham, who was found guilty at trial of simple dangerous driving got 15 months also with a two year ban and extended test.

Drew, 26, of Philip Close, Melksham, got four months for driving while disqualified, though he has served it on remand, and was banned until next October.

It had been alleged the three friends had been racing on Forest Lane from Lacock to Melksham when the crash took place in November last year.

All three had been charged with causing death by dangerous driving but were found not guilty by the jury following a trial last month.

The court heard that Drew, was also cleared of dangerous driving, and Forrester had never had a lesson in their lives and did not have licences.

And Palmer said the driver of a horsebox coming the other way had crossed into his carriageway, an assertion the judge dismissed.

He said "I reject your evidence that you thought the only careless aspect of your driving was that you felt you were going 5mph too fast.

"I bear very much in mind he evidence of the eye witnesses of the way you were driving on that day "I take in to account of course the fact that you suffered very serious injuries yourself. The blame for that lies with no one else other than yourself."

He said that he 'attatched no blame' to the way the driver of the horsebox was driving.

And he added "I have to take into account the closeness of your friendship with Max. I must say I have some serious doubts as to whether you were a truly good friend of his."

And he told Forrester that his driving was not 'a moment of inattention on your part'.

Robert Morgan-Jones, for Palmer, said his client was the only one who was 'street legal' and he suffered serious injuries which could have killed him.

Mark Sharman, for Forrester, who cried throughout the hearing, said his client immature and easily led.

Tristan Harwood, for Drew, said he had served more than the maximum sentence he could get on remand.

Earlier Max's dad Brian Atkinson broke down in tears in the witness box as he read a victim impact statement.

He said "Losing my son in such a terrible way, and such a sudden way, has had a massive impact on my life. I feel like my life has been ruined and I will never recover from this.

He sobbed as he said "I feel I am a completely different person now. I used to have a zest for life, now I am completely different."

The court also heard from 19-year-old max's older brother Dan and his mother Nicola who said "It is unbearably painful and it will never stop.

"Max was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong people. There is nothing we can do about that."

Sergeant Barrie Card, of Wiltshire Police, said:  "The family of Max Lewis were quiet and dignified throughout the sentencing hearing, which must have been very difficult at times. They understand that whatever sentence had been imposed this would not have changed anything and that nothing will bring Max back. 

"Max’s mum hopes that the custodial sentences imposed gives the three young men involved time to consider their actions that day which led to the death of her son.

"I would hope that this tragic incident has the effect of getting young men to think about the manner of their driving.   Speed was a factor of this collision and I would hope that this may prompt others to consider their speed, particularly on country roads.

"This incident shows that driving too fast can have tragic consequences. I would also hope that this may deter others from driving if they have not got a driving licence or insurance, as in the case of both Drew and Forrester."