8 years’ jail for chase-driver who killed grandad

A GRANDAD was killed by a driver reaching speeds of 70mph in a 20mph zone who was trying to escape the police, a court heard.

Daniel Sayers, 26, has been jailed for eight years for fatally mowing down 64-year-old taxi driver Allen Ingram in Denton, Tameside.

Mr Ingram, who ‘cherished’ his five grandchildren, died when he was pinned against his cab before being dragged down the road, a judge said. Sayers sped off and left him to die in the road.

The defendant, a dad-of-one who had previous driving offences on his record, had taken two friends to buy cannabis and drove at ‘grossly excessive speeds’ when an unmarked police car activated its blue lights.

Officers had spotted Sayers using a mobile phone at the wheel.

He crashed into a wall shortly after knocking down Mr Ingram, also leaving two passengers in his own car injured.

Sayers fled to his grandmother’s house and handed himself in to the police the next morning after reading about the incident on the M.E.N.’s website, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

A sentencing hearing was told Sayers’ white Vauxhall Mokka, which he had hired the previous day, was followed by police. During a chase reaching speeds of around 60mph, Sayers did not stop for a mini roundabout, narrowly avoided a pedestrian and his passengers repeatedly asked him to stop.

He then turned from Stockport Road into St Lawrence Road, a narrow residential street. Two cars had stopped as there was not enough room for them both to pass in opposite directions. Sayers did not brake, and was then estimated to be travelling at a speed of up to 70mph.

Onlookers said there was what sounded like a ‘massive explosion.’ Sayers ploughed into one of the cars and in the resulting crash Mr Ingram Daniel Sayers, left, and Allen Ingram was hit. He was returning to his driver seat after checking a sliding door of his cab was properly closed.

At the time, he was picking up an elderly couple from their home to take them to an appointment at the hairdressers.

Mr Ingram became trapped and was then propelled about 17 metres along the road. He suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His daughter, Katrina Ingram, told the court in a statement that her father worked every day of the year, including Christmas Day.

He put his efforts into living a simple life and was looking forward to his retirement and time with his five grandchildren, who he ‘cherished.’

Defending, Steven Sullivan said Sayers has ‘genuine regret and remorse.’

Sentencing, Judge John Potter said Mr Ingram died as a result of Sayers’ ‘grossly dangerous’ piece of driving.

Sayers, of no fixed abode, was also banned from driving for nine years. He earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Sergeant Jon McColl, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The reckless actions of Sayers that day tore an innocent man away from his family and friends and the fact that he still didn’t stop his car after fatally injuring Allen, is appalling.”