A fireball crash in Bradford in which four young joy-riders perished must serve as a warning to those who steal cars, the devastated parents of the dead driver said last night.

The family of James McClusky, who lost control of the turbo-charged Subaru Impreza while driving on the wrong side of the road at 100mph, said they were desperately sorry that three other families were suffering the same “terrible torment” as them.

Mr McClusky, 21, and his three passengers Craig James, 17, Robert Lynn, 16, and Thomas Tilleard, 15, all from Bradford, were in the car that smashed into a fish and chip shop in Killinghall Road, Laisterdyke, in the early hours of December 11, 2008.

Following yesterday’s inquest, the family of Mr McClusky said they accepted Coroner Roger Whittaker’s narrative verdict in which he said the group’s decision to steal the powerful car and drive it at high speed was almost certainly going to end in tragedy.

In a statement, Mr McClusky’s parents said: “We are desperately sad that three other families have to endure the same kind of terrible torment and pain that we have to, and because our son was the driver on that fateful morning, there will always be the burden of guilt we will carry with us, as well as our own grief, for the rest of our lives.

“On the other hand, we will be eternally grateful that nobody else was injured or killed.

“This type of crime appears to be particularly prevalent among our youth, especially young men.”

The parents said they did not know why their son chose to get involved in criminal activity, but added that he had paid the price with his life.

They said it should serve as a warning to others and added: “What happened to our son and three other young men should serve as a warning toothers. If it does not, then we honestly do not know what will. Our youth of today and our youth of the future always need to remember; there is no joy in joy-riding.”

Also speaking after the inquest, Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the four young men who lost their lives.

“This was a tragic case but it could have been so easily avoided. Stealing cars and driving them at high speeds can only end one way and unfortunately it is those who are left behind who have to live with the consequences – in this case the families.

“I can only hope that others who are considering stealing cars look at what happened on this occasion and think twice – that way the deaths of these young men won’t have been in vain.”

Mr Whittaker, concluding the two-day proceedings at Bradford Coroner’s Court, said the case demonstrated a “tragic and unnecessary waste” of four young lives.

Although West Yorkshire Police were pursuing the stolen Subaru for a matter of seconds at the time of the collision, Mr Whittaker stressed the officers had in no way caused or contributed to the tragedy.

The force had also conducted a thorough and proper investigation into the circumstances, he said.

Recording his verdict Mr Whittaker said the actions of the young men in stealing cars and tearing around was almost certainly going to lead to tragedy and added that the warnings they had been given by parents and friends proved “sadly prophetic”.

Mr Whittaker said it was “entirely fortuitous” that no-one else was injured or killed.

The inquest had earlier heard that Mr McClusky, of Harrier Close, Lower Grange; Craig James, of Wenborough Lane, Holme Wood; Robert Lynn, of Arden Road, Allerton, and Thomas Tilleard, of Lapwing Close, Lower Grange, had died instantly when the car burst into flames due to the force of the impact.