THE driver of a Ferrari which crashed leading to a teenager’s death has been jailed for 18 months.

Matthew Cobden, 39, of Long Lodge Drive, Surrey, was sentenced on Monday at Winchester Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving by a jury.

During the trial the court heard how Cobden had offered to give 13-year-old Alexander Worth a drive around in a Ferrari F50 before it went back into storage on August 22, 2016.

The teenager got into the car at Cobden’s car storage facility in Hook Road, North Warnborough, when Alexander was visiting the site with his father.

The pair drove off for a short ride around the public-accessed lane from the storage warehouse, but neither were wearing seatbelts.

The court heard that after travelling a short distance, Cobden lost control of the vehicle and collided with fencing at the side of the track.

Alexander suffered serious injuries during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cobden suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

When charged with causing the death of Alexander by careless driving, Cobden denied the claims.

However, a jury found him guilty by a majority verdict.

Sentencing Cobden, Judge Keith Cutler said: “You decided to to put your foot down, the Ferrari was unnecessarily in second gear, it could have been in first gear, and you put your foot down in order to cause a thrill for Alexander, you were showing off, that is the explanation for the accident and its consequences.

“In accelerating such a powerful vehicle, you lost control of it.

“Your evidence was that while you were experienced in driving such cars, the surge of power took you by surprise.”

He added: “Nothing that this court can do can bring Alexander back to his mother and father and his family.

“Nothing that I can do can properly reflect or compensate that loss of his life.”

Following the sentencing, Sergeant Rik Grant, from the Hampshire Constabulary Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This is a truly tragic case where a young boy has lost his life.

“His family have been left devastated by this, but they have shown great courage throughout this heart-breaking investigation.

“This sentence today could never make up for losing Alexander but I hope that it will bring some form of closure to his family.

“When driving such a powerful car, Cobden should have been in total control of the vehicle and taken all precautions to ensure he and his young passenger were safe.

“If anything can be taken away from this collision, I hope that by seeing how important it is to wear a seatbelt, regardless of the length or location of your journey, it might prevent another family going through this nightmare.”

Cobden was sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.