A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty in court today to causing the death by dangerous driving of his teenage sister.

Brian Sparkes of Heol Muston, Ely, Cardiff, admitted causing the death of 16-year-old Suzanne Sparkes and also to driving while disqualified at Cardiff Crown Court.

Sparkes was driving a white Ford Fiesta that was being followed by police when it crashed into a tree on Grand Avenue, Ely, on August 19, this year.

He had earlier ignored a police signal to stop.

Suzanne, who suffered multiple injuries in the crash, had to be cut free from the wreckage of the vehicle and died in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

Two other passengers, a 22-year-old man and a second 16-year-old girl, were also taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries.

The Police Complaints Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.

Today, Alan Troy, defending, told the court there was a possibility that the police car had collided with the vehicle Sparkes was driving as the front near-side of the patrol car was damaged.

He said: 'There was no explanation for what might have caused the damage to occur.

'The defence will seek scientific evidence to see whether these two vehicles were in contact with each other or not.'

Mr Troy told the court that Sparkes understood that even if it was proved that the police car did come into contact with the Ford Fiesta he still faced a custodial sentence.

But Keith Thomas, prosecuting, said the damage to the police car was caused when the vehicle was turned around to pursue the Ford Fiesta.

Sparkes was remanded in custody for sentence in two weeks time.