Simon Richardson has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering head teacher Michael Mullins, whom he dragged for more than a mile beneath his vehicle after a collision in Greater Manchester.
Richardson, 35, struck the 56-year-old father of two on 20 April as Mullins cycled home from Stretford Grammar School in Trafford. The collision took place in Warburton after Richardson drove through give-way markings at a junction in Altrincham.
The court heard that Mullins landed on the car before becoming trapped underneath it. Richardson stopped briefly and attempted to remove him, but then drove on to a secluded farm track in Lymm, about 1.3 miles from the crash site. He made further attempts to dislodge Mullins, including sharply moving the vehicle from side to side and driving onto a grass verge.
Mullins was eventually released, but the court heard that Richardson reversed over his head before leaving the scene. A motorcyclist followed a trail of blood and found Mullins barely breathing on the verge. Emergency services could not save him; he died from multiple injuries.
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Mrs Justice Brenner KC ordered Richardson to serve a minimum of 25 years. She also imposed a lifetime driving ban, saying it was necessary to protect the public.
The judge said Richardson had deliberately used his car as a weapon and had shown disregard for human life. She noted that he heard Mullins moaning and continued driving for around four and a half minutes despite knowing a conscious man was trapped beneath the vehicle.
Richardson had 28 previous convictions, including offences involving drink driving and careless driving, and was on bail for charges including affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm when the murder occurred. He was also convicted of dangerous driving linked to a police pursuit the following day, when he was arrested.
Mullins had led Stretford Grammar School for 17 years. His wife, Sarah, who had been married to him for 27 years, described him as her “safety net” and said his death had left her life empty and without purpose.
Elizabeth Baxter, the school’s acting head teacher, said it had been an honour and a privilege to work with Mullins. Defence barrister Jaime Hamilton KC argued that the lack of premeditation was significant and said Richardson had not intended to use his vehicle as a weapon.
Sources: BBC News UK.