The father of a 16-year-old who died in a joyriding accident today spoke of his heartbreak.

Disabled Stephen Murphy said his son James Petty was about to make a new start in life.

He said he was planning to leave a life of crime behind him.

Mr Murphy, 63, of Girlington, suffers from emphysema and has to take oxygen as well as medication. He said James's death has devastated the family.

"We are heartbroken," he said. "James had just come out of a young offenders institution and was about to start afresh. The problem was he got in with the wrong crowd."

James, who had a history of car theft, had sneaked out of his foster parents house in Clayton. He had being staying there while on remand accused of aggravated car theft.

The teenager was in a stolen Austin Maestro with two other youths when it shunted a taxi and careered into a lamppost outside Thornton Swimming Baths, Thornton Road, on Friday, May 29.

The force of the impact hurled one of the youngsters from the car. Firefighters, police and paramedics managed to free James and the other youngster.

All three were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where James was pronounced dead. The other two youngsters were later discharged.

No-one else was injured in the crash and the car was not being pursued by police.

Mr Murphy, who has two other sons, Andrew, 20 and 12-year-old Christopher, said: "He was a lovely lad who would do anything for you. He wanted to be a mechanic and also enjoyed working with computers."

Mr Murphy said his family were now waiting for the outcome of the inquest.

"Despite all reports, it is still not clear who was driving the car," he said.

"We will wait until the inquest. What the outcome of that is, I will accept."

After the crash, the Telegraph & Argus revealed that an investigation was launched by Bradford Social Services.

Mike Stow, Bradford Council's Assistant Director of Social Services, said his staff had been in contact with James's family and were offering support.

He said the Council would be looking at the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and would provide a report to the Coroner.

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