A motorist who crashed into a cyclist and dragged him for more than a mile under his vehicle has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years. Simon Richardson, 35, was convicted of murder following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
The incident occurred on 20 April in Warburton, Greater Manchester, as 56-year-old Michael Mullins—a married father-of-two and the head teacher of Stretford Grammar School—was cycling home from work. Richardson drove through give-way markings, striking Mr Mullins and sending him onto the car's windscreen before the victim became entangled in the vehicle's suspension.
During the trial, the court heard that Richardson and his passenger heard the injured head teacher moaning beneath the car. Rather than stopping, Richardson drove to a secluded farm track in Lymm, where he attempted to dislodge Mr Mullins. Prosecutors stated that Richardson later reversed over the victim before fleeing the scene. A motorcyclist following a trail of blood eventually discovered Mr Mullins, but emergency services were unable to save him from his multiple injuries.
Sentencing Richardson, Mrs Justice Brenner KC highlighted his 15-year history of serious driving offences, noting that he had 28 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of the murder. The judge handed Richardson a mandatory life sentence and imposed a lifetime driving ban to protect the public, stating that he had deliberately used his car as a weapon and prioritized fleeing the scene over human life.
