Motorist who dragged cyclist under his car for over a mile jailed for life for murder

A driver who struck a cyclist and dragged him beneath his 4x4 for more than a mile has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for murder.

Michael Mullins, 56, a father-of-two and Headteacher at Stretford Grammar School in Manchester, was cycling home on the early evening of 20 April when he was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by 35-year-old Simon Richardson.

The court heard that Richardson, who has no fixed address, drove straight through give-way markers at an Altrincham junction in Greater Manchester and collided with Mr Mullins. The cyclist landed on the vehicle's bonnet and windscreen before falling beneath the car, where he became trapped in the suspension.

Rather than stopping, Richardson drove on with Mr Mullins entangled beneath the vehicle. He was handed a life sentence on Monday by Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, who said he had shown an "astonishing degree of disregard for human life".

Addressing the defendant during sentencing, the judge said: "For every moment you carried on, you were knowingly using your heavy vehicle to cause serious injury to a man who was trapped, injured and completely helpless as a result of your actions.

"You did that because you decided escaping from the scene of an accident was more important than a human life."

Prosecutors stated that Richardson was aware the victim was trapped just inches beneath his feet shortly after the initial collision in Paddock Lane, Warburton. His front-seat passenger and cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, testified during the trial that both of them heard "moaning" coming from outside the car as he sped away.

The prosecution told the court that Richardson drove 1.3 miles to a secluded farm track on Wet Gate Lane, Lymm, in an attempt to dislodge Mr Mullins, describing the cyclist as "the single, solid piece of evidence of what he was driving away from".

After twice attempting to pull Mr Mullins out manually, Richardson returned to his vehicle, swerved deliberately from side to side, and drove onto a grass verge. Although the victim was eventually dislodged, Richardson ran over him while reversing to drive away.

A motorcyclist followed a trail of blood leading from Paddock Lane and found Mr Mullins alone and barely breathing on the verge. Emergency services were called to the scene, but Mr Mullins, from Northwich, Cheshire, died from multiple injuries.

Richardson was arrested the following day. Throughout his two-week trial, he denied murder, claiming he did not realise Mr Mullins was under his vehicle and denying that he had exited the car to free him. Jurors returned a guilty verdict on Friday. He was also convicted of a separate charge of dangerous driving on 21 April following a police pursuit prior to his arrest.

In a statement read to the court, Sarah Mullins, his wife of 27 years, called her husband her "safety net" and described the "all-consuming lethargy that makes it feel difficult to put one foot in front of another" following his loss.

She said: "My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart, my present is empty and often seems to be without purpose.

"The fact that Michael had to endure such a violent and painful death is an open wound that refuses to heal.

"I am, we are, completely adrift and bereft without our anchor, Michael Mullins."

Richardson kept his head down in the dock as the statements were delivered before a packed public gallery.

Elizabeth Baxter, acting head teacher at Stretford Grammar School, said it had been an "honour and a privilege" to work alongside Mr Mullins, who had led the school for 17 years. She stated: "He has left a void and a gulf at every level of our school."

Prosecution counsel Phil Barnes KC told the court that Richardson had 28 previous convictions, including a "significant history" of driving offences such as careless driving and failing to stop or report an accident in 2011, drink driving and driving while disqualified in 2012, driving while disqualified and uninsured in 2013, and driving without a licence or insurance in 2023.

In mitigation, defence barrister Jaime Hamilton KC highlighted the lack of premeditation as a "significant feature" of the case, adding that Richardson had not intended to use the car as a weapon. He stated that the defendant acknowledged his actions caused Mr Mullins's death and expressed his remorse.