Guilty pleas entered in Leek student death trial

Three men have admitted lying to police after a car involved in the death of a former Leek College pupil was found burnt out.

Liam Ward, aged 21, of no fixed address, Daniel Purcell, aged 24, of Kingfisher Road, Cheadle and serving prisoner Barry Hardy, aged 25, have pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

They have accepted setting fire to the Ford Escort which had hit and killed 17-year-old student Jessica Harrison in Cheadle. last January.

The three men admitted the charge at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

Hardy is already serving an eight-year prison sentence after admitting causing Jessica's death by dangerous driving.