A DRIVER convicted of causing the death of his friend in a car crash was last night facing jail.

Stephen Hocknell was unanimously found guilty of causing death by careless driving by jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

The 21-year-old motorist, who is profoundly deaf, rounded a bend on a country road too quickly, killing back-seat passenger Callum MacKinnon.

The 18-year-old former Carterton Community College pupil had played football for Witney United under-18s and was due to train with Cirencester Town’s academy development squad on the day of his death.

Front-seat passenger Peter Hayes, who was 19 at the time of the incident on September 7 last year, suffered minor injuries.

Stifled cries of ‘yes’ from Mr MacKinnon’s family in the public gallery greeted the verdict yesterday morning.

The trial heard Hocknell’s blue Citroen C3 span out of control on the B4020 Shilton Road between Burford and Carterton and hit a tree side on.

The group had been travelling back from Burford Garden Centre where Mr MacKinnon, who was studying for a National Diploma in sport at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC), worked.

Opening the case, prosecutor Roger Coventry had told the jury of eight women and four men: “Stephen Hocknell drove carelessly. How was he careless? He drove too fast for the road, too fast for the type of car that he had.”

Recorder Simon Blackford gave Hocknell, from Carterton, an interim driving disqualification and bailed him to be sentenced on November 1.

He said: “I am going to adjourn this matter for a pre-sentence report so that the court can hear about your background and your circumstances and your attitude towards the offence which you have been found guilty of.

“I must make it quite clear that all sentencing options remain open and indeed there must be a likelihood you will receive a custodial sentence.”

At the time of his death, Des Buckingham, OCVC’s football development manager, said: “Callum was a shining light as both a student and a young footballer.

“His hard work and positive attitude made him one of the most likeable and polite people to have ever come through the course.

“Staff, team-mates and friends are devastated at this loss and extend our sympathy to his family.”