Driver who dragged head teacher to his death jailed

Warning: This article contains distressing content

A driver who dragged a head teacher to his death for more than a mile under the wheels of his car has been jailed for life for murder.

Simon Richardson, 35, crashed into 56-year-old Michael Mullins in Warburton, Greater Manchester, on 20 April as Mullins cycled home from Stretford Grammar School in Trafford.

Jurors at Richardson's trial heard he then stopped to try to dislodge the injured but still-living cyclist before driving on with him still lodged underneath the vehicle.

The judge at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court told Richardson, 35, that he would have to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Richardson has also been banned from driving for life.

The judge, Mrs Justice Brenner KC, told the court: "This is needed to protect the public."

The court heard Richardson had an "appalling driving record" including previous convictions for drink driving and careless driving.

Brenner said: "You heard him moaning for many minutes and I am sure you knew you were dragging a man who you believed was conscious for four-and-a-half minutes.

"You drove at speed, performed manoeuvres that would cause injury and even though you knew the state he was in, you carried on."

The court also heard it was "astonishing that no-one else was injured".

Referring to CCTV footage of the incident, Brenner said it was "too distressing to watch" as it captured an "astonishing disregard for human life".

"He could not have been more vulnerable," the judge added.

"You did that because you believe fleeing from the scene of the incident as more important than human life."

Richardson drove through "give-way" markings at a junction in Altrincham and into the path of father-of-two Mr Mullins, who fell on to his bonnet and windscreen before being drawn under the car.

Mr Mullins became entangled in the suspension of the 4×4 as Richardson drove on, the court heard.

Prosecutors said the defendant was aware the trapped cyclist was inches below his feet shortly after the collision in Paddock Lane, Warburton.

Richardson's front-seat passenger, his cousin Gabrielle Debotte, told the trial that both heard "moaning" from outside as he drove from the collision scene.

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