Driver jailed for life after dragging cyclist a mile under car

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 15:58 · Archive

Simon Richardson, 35, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years for murdering headteacher Michael Mullins, whom he dragged under his Volvo XC90 for more than a mile.

Simon Richardson, 35, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Michael Mullins, a 56-year-old headteacher at Stretford Grammar School in Manchester. The sentence was handed down on Monday by Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

On the evening of 20 April, Mullins was cycling home from school when Richardson's Volvo XC90 struck him at a junction in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Richardson drove straight through give-way markers before hitting the cyclist. Mullins fell onto the bonnet and windscreen of the vehicle before becoming trapped beneath it, entangled in the suspension.

Rather than stopping, Richardson continued to drive for more than a mile with Mullins trapped under the car. Prosecutors stated that Richardson was aware the victim was trapped just inches beneath his feet shortly after the initial collision in Paddock Lane, Warburton. Richardson's front-seat passenger and cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, testified that both of them heard 'moaning' coming from outside the car as he drove away from the scene.

The court heard that Richardson had denied knowing Mullins was under his car, but prosecutors argued that he knew and 'inevitably knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway'. A jury found Richardson guilty of murder following the trial.

Addressing the defendant during sentencing, Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC 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.' The judge told Richardson he had shown an 'astonishing degree of disregard for human life'.

The Mirror reports that Richardson had a 'significant history' of driving-related crimes before the killing. He has no fixed address. Mullins was a father of two and was remembered by his family as their 'anchor'. His wife said her life had been 'brutally and callously torn apart'.

How it is being reported

• Driver who dragged cyclist under his car jailed for life for murderSimon Richardson hit Michael Mullins, dragged him for more than a mile under his Volvo XC90, and ran him over A driver who ploughed into a headteacher who was cycling home from school and dragged him, trapped under his car, for more than a mile has been jailed for life. Simon Richardson, who ignored give-way signs at a junction before the collision, was told he must serve a minimum of 25 years after a jury last week found him guilty of murder . Continue reading...The Guardian · 2 Nov, 15:43
• Driver who dragged beloved headteacher to death with his car jailed for lifeSimon Richardson, 35, had a “significant history” of driving-related crimes before he killed a cyclist with his vehicleThe Mirror · 2 Nov, 15:16
• Motorist who dragged cyclist under car for more than a mile jailed for murderSimon Richardson, 35, drove straight through give-way markers and into the path of Michael Mullins.Evening Standard · 2 Nov, 15:15
• Man jailed for 25 years after mowing down headteacher and dragging him under his car for more than one mileA motorist who mowed down a cyclist and dragged him under his car for more than a mile has been jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for his murder. Headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, was travelling home from Stretford Grammar School in Manchester in the early evening of April 20 when he was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by Simon Richardson. Richardson, 35, drove straight through give-way markers at a junction in Altrincham and into the path of Mr Mullins, who fell on to his bonnet and windscreen before he was drawn under the car. MORE TO FOLLOW... TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say LATEST…GB News · 2 Nov, 14:43
• Motorist who dragged cyclist under his car for over a mile jailed for life for murderSimon Richardson was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Streen Crown Court on MondayThe Independent · 2 Nov, 14:41
• Man jailed for life after murder of cyclist who was fatally dragged under his car for more than a mileA man who hit a cyclist and knowingly dragged him for more than a mile under his car has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison for the murder.Sky News · 2 Nov, 10:35

In this story: Simon Richardson · Michael Mullins · Stretford Grammar School · Altrincham · Manchester · Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC

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