A JUDGE declared it "a miracle" no-one died after six cars were caught up in a high-speed race.

Dhougal Robertson, aged 21, and 26-year-old Scott Assemakis were racing through Ridgeway, Hayes, when they crashed and hit three parked cars and a car containing a mother with her four children.

Robertson, of Wheeler Place, Bromley, was driving a Porsche Boxter he had just bought although he had no licence and Assemakis, of Homefield Road, Bromley, was in a Mercedes when the accident took place on August 25, last year.

Prosecutor Sarah Lindop told Croydon Crown Court last Friday, Robertson was driving his car for the first time and wanted to give the Mercedes a run for its money.

Robertson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Assemakis had denied the same charge but was found guilty.

David Ryan, defending, said Robertson left the scene because he had been confused after the crash but did go to a police station later in the day.

Simon Taylor, defending Assemakis, said he had been fully insured at the time and had waited for police to arrive and had offered to help the woman.

Recorder Diane Redgrave told the pair: "This accident was caused by embarking on a foolhardy race between the two of you, to establish which car was the faster.

"I am satisfied you were equally to blame."

He added: "It is nothing more than a miracle other people were not seriously injured or even killed."

Assemakis, who has a conviction for causing death by careless driving in 1999, was jailed for 15 months, banned for three years and ordered to pay £1,500 costs.

Robertson was sent down for eight months, disqualified for two years and ordered to pay £400 costs.

Both must take the extended test before driving again and must each pay £1,072 compensation to the owners of the three damaged parked cars and £500 each to the mother, Brigitte Allen.