A LIFELONG friend of Jason Brain, the 35-year-old Peugeot driver who was overtaking on the A429 Fosseway when his car collided head-on with the VW Passat, killing himself and six others, has appealed to people not to be too hasty to judge him.

Muriel Swift, aged 32, of Stockwells, Moreton, was prompted to speak out following press reports about Mr Brain's previous conviction for drink-driving when he was involved in a crash on the same stretch of road almost eight years ago.

Mr Brain, who also admitted fleeing the scene and driving while uninsured, was banned from driving for five years in January, 2001.

"It might be Jason's fault but everyone makes mistakes. They are making Jason out to be a murderer," she said. If he was in the wrong he was in the wrong. I believe there is only one person who will judge Jason and that's God," she added.

Ms Swift, whose sister-in-law Michola Jones, 31, also died in the Peugeot, said: "I think it's terrible that all the attention has been on the other family. I understand they are the victims of this but so were Michola, Natasha, and Ryan and, although he was the driver, Jason."

"I know it's easy to slate him for what he's done but he was still a human being with a big family who are suffering the same as everyone else," said Ms Swift, who said she had met members of Mr Brain's family at the weekend.

"They cannot believe what has happened and they are so angry with him the same as everyone else but they need to grieve as well," she said.

Ms Swift said Michola leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter, Jade, whose father Lee Churchill died two years ago. She is believed to be staying with her grandparents in Chipping Norton.

"Michola was a great sister and friend of mine and many people I know loved her. She always lit up a room when she walked in. She had a wicked sense of humour," said Ms Swift.

She said she and her friend Louise Hicks of Tinker's Close, Moreton, spent most days with Michola, whose partner Matthew Huckin lives in Tinker's Close. Ms Jones' mother lives in Bourton and her father is believed to be living in Little Compton. "We watch out the window that she would walk past and realise we won't be seeing her again. I can't get my head around that fact. We are going to really miss her," she added.

Ms Swift said she had only just got to know Natasha Didcote, Mr Brain's 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship with Lorna Didcote of Moreton, but said: "She was a bubbly person, a nice girl. It's a shame that she had only just started to have the relationship with her father that she'd always wanted and this event has separated them again."

Mr Brain, who worked at the brickworks in Paxford, had recently split up with his long-term partner Tina Peach of Stockwells, Moreton, by whom he had three sons.

His parents live in King's George's Field, Stow and he has a number of brothers and sisters.