THE father of a teenage boy who was left with horrific injuries following a car crash is suing the young driver for more than £300,000.

Jack Horton, 16, spent five months on a life support machine after Ben Gemmell, 18, lost control of his Citroen C1 and ploughed into him and a group of friends in Tyrone Road, Thorpe Bay, last March.

The accident killed Jack’s 15-year-old friend, Eleanor McGrath, and injured eight other youngsters. Jack has left hospital but remains in a low awareness state.

Gemmell, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, was jailed for six years in November after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and eight charges of causing grevious bodily harm. He was also banned from driving for ten years.

Now Jack’'s father, Andy, has issued a High Court writ, through solicitors Irwin Mitchell, in an effort to sue Gemmell for a miminum of £300,000 to include a claim for personal injuries.

This comes after the family paid for their home in Barling Road, Great Wakering, to be adapted so Jack could return home for Christmas.

As Jack can now breathe unaided, he can be at home surrounded by Andy, mum Jane, brother Joe, 19, and sister Betsy, 15.