Two men have been jailed after a fatal collision in Manchester, which occurred while they were inhaling nitrous oxide and driving at speeds exceeding 100mph.
The incident resulted in the death of 50-year-old Sylvester Abayomi, who was on his way to work.
Uways Hussain, 20, was behind the wheel of a VW Golf GTI belonging to his friend Usmon Mahmood, 23, when he ran a red light and crashed into Mr Abayomi’s car. Manchester Crown Court heard on Friday that the collision took place at 4.30am on 9 March, at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway.
Mr Abayomi’s partner, Denise Doyle, delivered a poignant victim impact statement to the court.
open image in gallery“Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man. He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did,” she said. Addressing the defendants directly, she added: “You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity.”
Hussain, who had previously indicated a guilty plea, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months detention. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen.
Mahmood, who initially claimed he tried to warn Hussain about his driving before pleading guilty, received a 12 years and nine months jail term for aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving whilst uninsured.
Judge Nicholas Dean KC condemned their actions, stating: “It was a sustained, deliberate and escalating course of highly dangerous conduct over a prolonged period.”
open image in galleryHe described CCTV images and video recordings shown in court as “terrifying,” noting: “You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit.”
The court heard that both men handled mobile phones, recorded videos, and inhaled nitrous oxide during their journey. Videos filmed by the defendants hours before the crash depicted Hussain driving at over 100mph with one hand on the wheel.
Prosecutor Rachel Shenton highlighted that Mahmood, the front seat passenger, was heard “shouting encouragement” at times. Judge Dean concluded it was “deliberate risk-taking, seemingly for the thrill of it.”
open image in galleryFollowing the crash, an Apple Watch worn by Hussain automatically dialled 999 after detecting the collision. Unaware of the call, the pair were recorded discussing calling an Uber to leave the scene and reporting the car as stolen.
Judge Dean described the transcript of this call as “chilling”, noting it “doesn’t reveal shock or concern for the victim.” Ms Shenton confirmed the men fled the scene and ran from officers before their arrest.
Neil Ronan, defending Hussain, stated his client was a law student who worked full-time at an airport and had a previous conviction for drug-driving.
Clare Ashcroft, representing Mahmood, said he was about to start an apprenticeship with Network Rail and was “starting to understand the impact of his behaviour. In my submission he is remorseful.”