Driver who dragged a headteacher to his death for over a mile was ON BAIL with convictions for 28 offences
Dashcam footage of Simon Richardson's van at Wrigley Head, as his cousin Gabrielle Debotte — his front-seat passenger — was heard shouting 'bike' three times because he 'wasn't stopping'.Simon Richardson, in a custody photograph, had heard victim Michael Mullins "moaning for many minutes" before driving at speed for four-and-a-half minutes knowing he was conscious beneath the van.CCTV footage of a dark green Volvo XC90 driven by Simon Richardson, who had 28 previous convictions including drink driving and driving whilst disqualified before he murdered Michael Mullins on 20 April.Michael Mullins, headteacher of Stretford Grammar School, whose wife Sarah said her 'past, present, and future have been brutally and callously torn apart' by his murder.
Simon Richardson, 35, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Monday for the murder of headteacher Michael Mullins, 56. Mullins had been cycling home from Stretford Grammar School in Greater Manchester on 20 April when Richardson crossed give-way markings and struck him. Mullins became trapped in the suspension of Richardson's Volvo XC90, which continued for 1.3 miles at speeds reaching 60mph. At the time, Richardson had only just been released on remand after an assault on an emergency worker and was still awaiting trial on charges of affray, actual bodily harm and cocaine possession.
The judge told Richardson he had shown an 'astonishing degree of disregard for human life', knowingly driving with a helpless man trapped beneath his wheels.
Mullins' widow Sarah said her 'past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart', while his family called Richardson a 'true coward not worthy of any place in society'.
Acting head Elizabeth Baxter said Mullins had transformed Stretford Grammar from special measures in 2009 into a 'highly special, popular and oversubscribed school' over 17 years.
