Driver who dragged a cycling headteacher more than a mile under his car is jailed for life for murder

Simon Richardson, 35, of no fixed address, carried five prior driving convictions and was on bail for affray, assault and drug possession when he drove his Volvo XC90 into headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, on 20 April. After briefly stopping in an attempt to free the injured but still-living Mullins from beneath the vehicle, Richardson drove on, dragging him 1.3 miles along a secluded farm track in Lymm before leaving him there. Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC told Richardson he had shown an "astonishing degree of disregard for human life" and banned him from driving for life.

Richardson's cousin Gabrielle Debotte, sitting in the front seat, shouted 'bike' three times and heard moaning under the car — yet he put his foot down.

Wife Sarah Mullins told the court: 'My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart.'

Stretford Grammar School was in special measures when Mullins took over in 2009; acting head Elizabeth Baxter called his impact 'truly transformative'.