Motorist who dragged cyclist under his car for a mile jailed for life

A driver who struck a cyclist and dragged him beneath his 4x4 for more than a mile has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for murder. Michael Mullins, 56, a father-of-two and Headteacher at Stretford Grammar School in Manchester, was cycling home on the early evening of 20 April when he was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by 35-year-old Simon Richardson. The court heard that Richardson, who has no fixed address, drove straight through give-way markers at an Altrincham junction in Greater Manchester and collided with Mr Mullins. The cyclist landed on the vehicle's bonnet and windscreen before falling beneath the car, where he became trapped in the suspension. Rather than stopping, Richardson drove on with Mr Mullins entangled beneath the vehicle. He was handed a life sentence on Monday by Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, who said he had shown an "astonishing degree of disregard for human life". Addressing the defendant during sentencing, the judge 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." Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok /   / independent   Instagram /   / the.independent   X (Twitter) /   / independent   Facebook /   / theindependentonline   Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations