Wellington, July 24 NZPA - Despite a plea from the victim's family, a man who killed his best mate in a drunken road crash has been jailed.

Sending Campbell Gorrie to jail would serve no purpose, Michelle Shepherd, mother of Dan Shepherd, 19, who died in the crash, told Judge Jan Doogue in Whangarei District Court this week.

However The Northern Advocate reported that Judge Doogue told the grieving family while their plea was remarkable, Gorrie had caused the death of a young man. He had also been caught driving while disqualified for the third time.

She said home detention was not an option and jailed Gorrie for two years for drink-driving causing death and careless driving causing death -- and an extra two months for driving while disqualified.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Gorrie was charged after a crash about 9pm on October 17 last year. He had been driving despite being disqualified less than three weeks earlier.

Mr Shepherd, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was trapped in the car and died at the Whangarei Hospital six days later from head injuries.

Gorrie recorded 701 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath -- almost five times over the 150mcg limit for drivers aged under 20.

Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said Gorrie pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, was "deeply remorseful" for his actions and co-operated with police.

NZPA