Driver jailed for life for murdering cycling headteacher

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 00:44 · Archive

Simon Richardson, 35, has been jailed for life with a minimum 25-year term for murdering headteacher Michael Mullins in April.

Simon Richardson, 35, has been jailed for life for murdering Michael Mullins, the 56-year-old headteacher of Stretford Grammar School in Trafford. Richardson struck Mr Mullins as he cycled home from work in Warburton, Greater Manchester on 20 April. Mr Mullins was dragged under Richardson's Volvo for 1.3 miles before dying at the roadside in Lymm. The court heard Richardson made efforts to remove Mr Mullins from under his car before driving away from the scene. He later swapped his car for a silver van and was arrested after leading police on a high-speed pursuit.

Richardson was found guilty of murder and dangerous driving after a two-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. Mrs Justice Brunner KC sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years and imposed a lifetime driving ban. The judge said Richardson "took away a life and in doing so you caused devastation to a family and a community" and noted his "repeated convictions for a range of serious driving offences over a 15-year period" demonstrated "complete contempt you have for the law". Richardson, who had previous convictions for 28 offences and was on bail for affray and assault at the time of the murder, had denied the charges.

In her victim impact statement, Mr Mullins' wife of 27 years, Sarah, said her husband had been her "safety net". Elizabeth Baxter, acting headteacher of Stretford Grammar, said Mr Mullins had transformed the school since his appointment in 2009, when it was in special measures, into a "highly special, popular and over-subscribed school". She described how he had "instilled a very high standard and expectations" and "created a very special community built on respect and kindness".

How it is being reported

• "We are completely adrift and bereft without our anchor, Michael Mullins"Simon Richardson was jailed for life for the murder of Michael MullinsManchester Evening News · 2 Nov, 19:30
• Selfish driver jailed for life for callous murder of Stretford Grammar headteacher Michael Mullins“You are a man who had his own self interest at heart"Manchester Evening News · 2 Nov, 15:19
• Driver who dragged head teacher to his death jailedSimon Richardson is told he will have to serve at least 25 years for the murder of Michael Mullins.BBC Manchester · 2 Nov, 14:40
• LIVE: Man who murdered Stretford Grammar headteacher Michael Mullins to discover his fate - updates from courtSimon Richardson, 35, was found guilty of murder following a two weeks trialManchester Evening News · 2 Nov, 12:01

In this story: Simon Richardson · Michael Mullins · Stretford Grammar School · Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court · Warburton · Greater Manchester

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log