“I WISH it was me who lost my life that night and not Sid.”

Those were the words of Philip Sherriff moments before he was sentenced for causing the death of 19-year-old friend Sidney Spiers by careless driving.

The 20-year-old’s Fiat Punto veered off the road at an accident blackspot in Horspath and hit a concrete bridge.

Backseat passenger Mr Spiers, from Kennington, died a week later in hospital, while Sherriff was in a coma for three weeks. Fellow passengers, Ryan Weller, Lewis Beecham and Damian Broster, also suffered serious injuries.

Spiers’s friends and family yesterday reacted angrily as Sherriff – who admitted the charge – was given 300 hours’ unpaid work, two years’ supervision and told to pay £500 costs.

He will also be banned from driving for two years.

The deceased’s brother walked out of court shouting: “He took 50 years from Sid. He will get it another day. I’ll see you outside.”

Roger Coventry, prosecuting, at Oxford Crown Court, said the crash took place on a wet road at 8.30pm on October 1 last year.

Sherriff, a chef, was coming from Wheatley when his car swerved immediately after the traffic-calming chicane in a 30mph limit near the entrance to Horspath.

Quoting the crash investigator, Mr Coventry said the “speed of vehicle was clearly excessive” and put it down to “a combination of his speed, the weather conditions, excessive steering inputs and possibly the under-inflation of a rear tyre”.

Sherriff, of Marylands Green, Chislehampton, could not remember the incident or the three months beforehand, the court heard.

He had no trace of drink or drugs in his system. Investigators could not determine the speed of the car.

Adrian Amer, defending, said: “This would have to be one of the most tragic cases that has ever come before this court.

“In no way, shape or form does the defendant deny any culpability.”

Reading a letter from his client, Mr Amer added: “I wish it was me who lost my life that night and not Sid.

“Sid was a good person, a caring person, a person to be proud of.

“I never meant to go out that night and kill my friend, I never meant for this to happen. I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart,” he added.

Sentencing, Judge Mary Jane Mowat said: “Practically everyone who drives a car is guilty from time to time of momentary, or perhaps even more prolonged, carelessness behind the wheel which, by sheer chance, does not result in a collision, an injury or a death.”

Following the comments from the public gallery she added: “Although the reaction is entirely understandable, that kind of foul-mouthed contemptuous outburst in the face of the court is unacceptable.

“The court has every sympathy with their situation, but mindless revenge only leads to more grief and distress.”

REACTION OF VICTIM'S MOTHER Sidney Spiers’s mum Jackie said after the case: “We are appalled at the lenient sentence given today. It strikes me if you want to kill someone, do it with a car because the consequences are just not there.”

She added: “The driver was speeding in a 30mph area with clear signs regarding the speed. If this is not dangerous, then what is?

“Ask the driver what he does on Saturdays. I go and visit my son’s grave. I would have thought at least a custodial sentence would have been apt and maybe made other drivers consider their actions.

“My whole family’s lives have been badly affected and we firmly believe justice was not done today.”