LIFE IN JAIL FOR HOUSE RAID KILLER
Wife relives motor horror
A BURGLAR has been jailed for life for twice running over an ex-Navy officer as his wife watched in horror.
The brave widow wept in court yesterday as she told how the raider, who must serve a minimum of 27 years, had “destroyed” her life too.
Jessica Samwell, 34, said she was haunted by the image of husband Mike holding her hand as his life ebbed away.
He had confronted career criminal Ryan Gibbons after dashing outside to stop him stealing the family’s £36,000 Audi. Gibbons, 29, reversed into him then drove over him a second time.
The court heard after the incident he dumped the Audi, smoked a joint and then went to the pub.
A jury at Manchester Crown Court convicted him of murder.
Standing in the witness box just feet from the killer, Jessica was allowed to address the court to describe the devastating impact of the crime.
She said: “I feel overwhelming grief for the future we will never have.’’
She wept as she continued: “And to think of the children we will never share is devastating.”
Gibbons woke the couple when he broke into their £450,000 house in Chorlton, Greater Manchester, and snatched the keys to their motor from the kitchen table.
Gibbons’ accomplice Raymond Davies, 21, who drove him to the house to steal the car, was jailed for eight years after being convicted of manslaughter.