A TEENAGER reached speeds of up to 120mph before he crashed his high performance car into a tree and died, an inquest heard.

Steven Parsons suffered multiple fatal injuries after losing control of his modified 1.9 litre Seat Leon Cupra on May 22 this year.

The 19-year-old ferry ticket sales operator of Old Milton Road, New Milton, was driving on the A35 Christchurch by-pass when the fatal accident happened.

His friend, motor mechanic Samuel Broomfield, who drives a 2.4 litre Audi A4, recalled how he and Mr Parsons had been on their way to Hengistbury Head to take photographs of their cars when the high-speed collision happened.

Mr Broomfield, of Christchurch, told Bournemouth Coroner’s Court how he had been a passenger in Mr Parsons’ car three days earlier.

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He said: “Steve took me for a trip down the Christchurch bypass; his driving was fast and a bit aggressive. He was getting up to speeds of 110mph to 120mph and driving up close to cars without braking. Steve was flashing his lights, pretty much ordering them to get out of the way. It made me feel uneasy and embarrassed.”

On May 22 Mr Parsons said he didn’t know the way to Hengistbury Head and agreed to follow Mr Broomfield’s car.

Mr Broomfield said: “Steve was close behind me, then he just put his foot down and undertook me before undertaking two or three cars in front. I guess he was doing around 100mph to 110mph; it was nowhere near what the car was capable of. He was accelerating flat out. Then I saw his car swerving sideways and a cloud of dust. It happened so fast.”

Witness Paul Butler, of Bournemouth, told the inquest that Mr Parsons had been driving recklessly and estimated his speed at “easily over 100mph”.

Michael Fountaine from Broadstone recalled how he had suddenly seen Mr Parsons in his mirror, adding: “He was alongside me and looked over towards me. As he passed I breathed a sigh of relief.”

No defects were found on the vehicle and Hampshire police senior crash investigator Stanley Gibbs estimated its speed at 78mph to 93mph, depending on which gear Mr Parsons had been in. He said: “It was a very high speed impact. The car roof was wrapped around the tree trunk and the engine ejected.”

Recording that Mr Parsons’ death was accidental, East Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne said: “He was entirely responsible for his own death. It was extremely fortunate that no one else was injured or died as a result of his actions.”