Killer text-driver who mowed down M-way workers is jailed
Jailing Morrison, Mr Justice William Davis told him: “Your bad driving, a combination of speed and concentrating on your mobile phone, went on over many miles.
“You were driving at speed wholly inappropriate for the kind of weather conditions.
“You were driving whilst using a mobile phone and you drove as you approached that accident without any regard at all for vulnerable road users.”
When Morrison’s mobile phone was examined after the crash, it showed he had sent 44 text and WhatsApp messages during his 23-mile journey.
Shortly before noon, he sent a message asking Manchester City player Cameron Humphreys: “You on the bench?”
In another message, sent at 11.59am, Bolton’s Zach Clough told Morrison: “Get me a move to Hartlepool.”
The agent sent Clough a video of a goal he had scored around 90 seconds before he crashed.
Clough replied 45 seconds before Morrison lost control, saying: “Not bad was it. Ha ha.”
In an emotional statement, Mr Gibb’s widow Julie said: “In time I may be able to forgive Mr Morrison for killing Adam but I am never going to forgive him for taking my son’s dad away from him.” Statements from Mr Holroyd and his partner Allison Wynne, who were both in court, were also read out.
Mr Holroyd told how their plans to live together on the campsite he ran had been ended by his injuries. Instead they had to move into a specially-adapted bungalow. He said: “She has become my carer. This isn’t what I wanted for her.”
Morrison was convicted in an earlier trial at Carlisle Crown Court of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was disqualified from driving Morrison arriving at court yesterday. Above, Adam Gibb. Right, Paul Holroyd and Allison yesterday for eight years. John Dye, defending, said married Morrison was a man of “impeccable character” with a young son.
References from high-profile clients and friends, including Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, were given to the judge.
Revealing his contrition, Morrison, of Worsley, Greater Manchester, also wrote a note to the judge. It read: “Not a moment passes when I do not feel the guilt of taking a boy’s father away from him.”