Driver Michael Lock's failed bid to get back behind the wheel three years early after causing crash which killed best friend Josh Irvine in Colchester

A judge refused to cut the final three years off Michael Lock’s six-year ban, telling him the application was “premature”.

Lock was behind the wheel of a Citroen Saxo in November 2012 when it crashed into a road sweeper in Bromley Road, Colchester, while travelling at 55mph in a 30mph zone.

His passenger, 18-year-old Josh Irvine, died at the scene.

Loved - Josh Irvine died at the scene of the crash

Lock, who had only passed his driving test one month before the fatal crash, was sentenced to three years in a Young Offenders’ Institution and was banned for six years in June 2014 after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

He was released from prison sentence in December 2015 Now 23, Lock, of Colchester, applied to have his licence returned at the earliest possible opportunity.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he needed his licence in order to work as a full time engineer in his dad’s business.

But his plea was rejected by Judge David Turner.

Mr Turner heard an emotional plea from Mr Irvine’s parents, Patrick and Tracey.

Tracey and Patrick Irvine

The grieving parents told the judge: “We believe anybody with a conscience or a shred of human decency would serve out the sentence they have been given.

“He wants to get his ban lifted and driving licence back.

“Quite frankly it’s extremely offensive and insulting to those who loved Josh and who knew him.

"We believe he is only thinking of himself.”

Mrs Irvine added: “He has got his life, he is going to have his life.

“He will be able to drive again at some point in the future. He only served one and a half years inside.

Jailed - Michael Lock 

“We think he should just be grateful that he is still here.

"He has a life still to lead and we don’t think he has any regard for anybody else.

“If he gets his licence back it’s quite probable this will happen again and God forbid another family will have to go through what we have.

“It’s coming up to five years now and it hurts like yesterday.

“It’s never going to go away and never going to get any better."

Rejecting Lock’s bid for his licence to be returned, Judge Turner said: “The application is made prematurely.

"At the halfway point of this disqualification, not enough time has been served off the road.”

“It’s beyond argument that the driving was appalling, it was excessively speedy, a bend was negotiated during which control was lost, the vehicle went into the wrong lane and collided with a road sweeper.”

The judge said he accepted Lock was “haunted” by what happened and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and deeply remorseful.

Ahmed Muen, representing Lock, said he was no longer “the cocky, arrogant and overconfident” teenager, who had only passed his driving test a month before.

Mr Muen said: “The family wish to move away from the area, as far away as possible, out of Essex. He was subjected to a lot of abuse publicly.

“There were several Facebook posts inviting both physical abuse upon him and one inciting rape against him.

“They were shared in his community so as a result he wants to leave the area.”