SPRING was in the air as the three happy-go-lucky teenagers strolled down the familiar pavement of Ipswich's Fore Hamlet.Scott Towler and Dean Bloomfield, both at the carefree age of 15, were making their way down the street at about lunchtime on Friday May 30.

SPRING was in the air as the three happy-go-lucky teenagers strolled down the familiar pavement of Ipswich's Fore Hamlet.

Scott Towler and Dean Bloomfield, both at the carefree age of 15, were making their way down the street at about lunchtime on Friday May 30.

14-year-old Janay Porter had her hand slipped into that of Dean's, her teenage sweetheart.

They had nothing more in mind than window-shopping and enjoying the day.

The two Stoke High boys, together with Janay of Holywells High School, made their way down the road with a laugh and a joke in the air.

It was a journey they had all made before.

Little did they know that just over a mile away a domestic drama was brewing – one which would culminate in the brutal end to two of their young lives and overwhelming grief for the third.

Zulfcar Ali was a 33-year-old heroin addict, who had moved to Ipswich's Boyton Road from Sheffield.

Life was hard for his family – his wife, Shazia Bibi, young daughter and baby – as they struggled to cope with Ali's all-consuming, three-year-long heroin addiction.

Despite trying to get help from his GP, Zulfcar had failed to kick the habit.

That Spring day Ali had already smoked cannabis and heroin and had taken cocaine.

But his wife was nearing breaking point. In a blazing row, she told him he either had to kick the habit or she would leave.

That day their bathroom echoed with the sounds of his shouts and her screams as she even threatened to set herself on fire.

In a rage, Ali stormed down to his car - a Volvo recently bought from a neighbour - and got into the driver's seat.

His wife screamed for her daughter to call the police and threw herself on the bonnet to stop him from leaving.

But he jammed on the brakes three times and managed to throw his wife off.

Ali, who had no licence and had failed his test four times, sped off in the direction of Bishops Hill.

The children were still making their way along the road when the Volvo turned into Fore Hamlet, swerving from side to side.

Before they knew it, the car had mounted the pavement and was heading towards them at speed.

Janay, on the inside, flattened herself against the wall and tried desperately to pull Dean towards her.

But despite her efforts, the car careered into Scott and Dean, who were thrown onto the bonnet.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and tried in vain to save the boys.

Scott, who had been nearest the road, was declared dead at the hospital.

Dean struggled through the night before breathing his last breath in the morning.

Ali, whose wife and children returned to Sheffield just days after the tragedy, has now pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

His Boyton Road neighbours are still in shock.

Dawn Pennock, 30, said: "It was our car that we sold to him. Before then he did not have a car, not one that I knew of.

"I think he should be sent down – what he did was wrong. But what happened was a freak accident and I do feel sorry for him. Last time we saw him he seemed like a pleasant man."

But Beverley Newman, 31, added: "It is good that he has pleaded guilty, he should be sent down for it. He should be sent down for a long time."