Driver who dragged head teacher to his death jailed for life

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 the married father-of-two 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 that he would have to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Richardson had previous convictions for 28 offences, with a "significant history" of driving-related crimes.

He was also on bail at the time of the murder for offences including affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mrs Justice Brenner KC said Richardson, who looked straight ahead as he was being sentenced, "took away a life and in doing so you caused devastation to a family and a community".

She added: "You deliberately used your car as a weapon over a prolonged period.

"You have repeated convictions for a range of serious driving offences over a 15-year period.

"This demonstrates the complete contempt you have for the law."

The judge told the court she had to hand Richardson a lifetime driving ban to "protect the public".