Noble told police his dead passenger had been at the wheel

The Daewoo's occupants, Roy Holmes, 79, his wife Audrey 69, and daughter-in-law, Diane, 47, were killed in the crash.

Three of Noble's eight passengers, John Heywood, 42, David Wood, 35, and father-of-three Dennis Royston, 36, also died in the collision.

Judge Goldsack, who also imposed a lifetime driving ban, said it would be difficult to imagine a more serious case.

"You only contacted the police when satisfied you had no alcohol left in your blood and you then named a dead friend as the driver.

"Your arrogance in the witness box was breathtaking, claiming you were perfectly capable of driving safely after consuming 13 pints."

In your case I have detected not the slightest feeling of remorse about what happened

Judge Mr Alan Goldsack QC

Noble, 39, of Thorpe Salvin, South Yorkshire, was convicted of six charges of causing death by dangerous driving after a two week trial.

The jury heard Noble had started drinking at 1200 BST on 2 July 2000, driving from pub to pub and picking up friends along the way.

His passengers told the court that Noble had appeared "glazed" as he swayed from lane to lane along the A57 towards Kiveton Park at speeds of up to 80mph.

"He was driving like a loony," said one witness who was knocked unconscious during the journey and woke to see his best friend Mr Royston covered in blood.

Fled scene

Noble, who suffered minor injuries, fled the crash scene after being freed from the wreckage.

He made a call on his mobile phone and was collected by his girlfriend Rachel Renshaw.

She took him to his sister's house for the night where his son Carl brought him a change of clothes.

Interviewed by police the next day, Noble claimed one of his friends killed in the crash had been driving.

I nearly got into the Daewoo but in the end I went with my great aunt and uncle because there was not enough room

Jamie Holmes

But in a second interview he admitted driving and said water on the road had made the Land Cruiser skid out of control.

Jamie Holmes, 21, had intended to travel in the Daewoo car with his mother and grandparents who were returning home to the Crookes area of Sheffield from a family 21st birthday party.

"I nearly got into the Daewoo but in the end I went with my great aunt and uncle because there was not enough room," he said after the trial.

Mr Holmes added that he could never forgive Noble for what he had done.