A speeding drink-driver who killed a friend after losing control of a powerful car has been jailed for almost four years.
Daniel Ritchie got into the souped-up Vauxhall Corsa – despite having been drinking at a birthday party.
Friend Greg Anderson went with him but just minutes into the journey Ritchie crashed the hatchback into a tree.
Mr Anderson suffered head injuries and died the same night.
Ritchie told a witness after the smash: “Why is it always the driver that escapes from these things? It should be me that’s dead.”
The 25-year-old, of Woodlands, Carr Road, Carrbridge, had previously admitted causing Mr Anderson’s death by dangerous driving and appeared for sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.
A judge told Ritchie that he had driven while his ability to control the car was impaired by drink, and he drove at grossly excessive speed.
Lord Boyd of Duncansby said: “Motor vehicles in the wrong hands can be lethal weapons.”
The judge said that if Ritchie had been convicted of the offence after trial he would have jailed him for five years.
He said that he took into account that he was a first offender, that the 21-year-old victim was a friend, that he had shown remorse and was also injured in the incident.
Lord Boyd told Ritchie he was “criminally responsible” for the death of Greg Anderson and jailed him for three years and nine months.
The judge said he had heard about the impact the death had on Mr Anderson’s family and added: “In a small community, however, his death would have been keenly felt far beyond his family.”
Ritchie had written a letter expressing his remorse and Lord Boyd told him: “I have little doubt that if you could turn the clock back you would do that.”
The judge said the vehicle involved in the collision, which had been modified to produce almost three times its regular bhp, was “a powerful car”.
“He owned it and he drove it. I accept he himself did not modify it,” said Lord Boyd.
Mr Anderson, of Ardbroilach Road, Kingussie, and his girlfriend had gone to Carrbridge to attend a 21st birthday party and spent the night socialising.
Plant operator Ritchie was also at the party and mentioned to one witness that he was “feeling quite drunk”.
One person at the event recalled that Ritchie had offered to show Mr Anderson his car. The two of them then left the party.
A witness noticed a light gold coloured car passing un Carrbridge’s Carr Road at speed, and another neighbour heard it accelerate.
The court heard it had what he described as “a sports exhaust” and was being driven fast.
Ritchie lost control of the car on a single track road near Carrbridge and it struck a fence then hit a tree.
A passerby who stopped at the scene could smell drink when he talked to Ritchie, who told him: “Please tell me he is still alive.”
Ritchie added: “I think I’ll be going to jail for this.”
The man asked him what he meant and he replied: “I’ve had a drink.”
Ritchie suffered a collapsed lung and a doctor told police he had complained about his ability to give a breath specimen due to pain in his chest.
His counsel, solicitor advocate Shahid Latif, said: “Daniel Ritchie expresses his remorse and regret publicly through me to the family of Greg Anderson.
“This is an individual who bitterly regrets the gross error of judgment displayed by him on that summer evening.”
Ritchie was also disqualified from driving for five years.
Mr Anderson’s family was not available for comment yesterday.