A driver who killed a respected headteacher by dragging him beneath his SUV for more than a mile has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 25 years.
Simon Richardson, 35, was convicted of murdering Michael Mullins, 56, who was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School when he was struck by Richardson’s two-tonne Volvo XC90 on April 20.
The court heard that Richardson continued driving for more than a mile after the collision, reaching speeds of up to 60mph, despite knowing that Mr Mullins was trapped underneath his vehicle.
Sentencing him at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Mrs Justice Brunner said Richardson had demonstrated an extraordinary disregard for human life by prioritising his escape over stopping after the collision.
The judge also highlighted his appalling driving history and imposed a lifetime driving ban.
Richardson’s minimum prison term will be reduced by the time he has already spent on remand.
Previous Driving Convictions Spanned 15 Years
Details presented during sentencing revealed that Richardson had accumulated five previous driving convictions dating back to 2011.
His offences included failing to stop after crashing a vehicle into a wall, driving while disqualified and two separate drink-driving convictions.
He also had a wider criminal history involving 28 previous offences and 11 court appearances since the age of 18.
Other convictions included public disorder, battery, stalking and making threats to cause criminal damage.
At the time he killed Mr Mullins, Richardson was on bail after recently being released from prison, where he had been held on remand over allegations of assaulting an emergency worker.
He had received a community order for that offence a month earlier and was also awaiting trial over separate allegations of affray, actual bodily harm and cocaine possession.
Prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told the court that Richardson had been sofa-surfing and was effectively homeless at the time.
Headteacher Survived Initial Collision
The fatal incident happened shortly after 6pm as Mr Mullins travelled home from work.
The 56-year-old, described as fit and active, was cycling the 19-mile journey to his home near Northwich, Cheshire, when Richardson struck him at a junction in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
Rather than stopping, Richardson continued driving with the teacher trapped beneath the Volvo.
During the journey, he reportedly swerved sharply from side to side in an attempt to dislodge Mr Mullins from underneath the vehicle.
The trial heard that the victim was eventually thrown clear when the vehicle mounted a grass verge on a country lane. Richardson then drove over him again.
Mr Mullins was left on a roadside verge in Lymm, Cheshire, approximately 1.3 miles from where the collision occurred.
Driver Stopped for Fuel After Leaving Victim Behind
After abandoning Mr Mullins at the roadside, Richardson stopped to refuel his damaged vehicle and collect weight-loss medication for his cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, who had been travelling in the passenger seat.
CCTV footage captured the hooded defendant at a petrol station shortly after the incident.
Witnesses became aware of the tragedy after noticing a trail of blood along the road.
One of them, Andrew Besant-Roberts, followed the trail and discovered Mr Mullins lying unconscious on a grass verge.
He told the court that the cyclist appeared to be positioned similarly to someone in the recovery position but was still breathing.
Mr Besant-Roberts immediately contacted emergency services and attempted to help the injured teacher.
A paramedic subsequently arrived and assisted with resuscitation efforts, including chest compressions.
However, Mr Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.50pm, approximately 40 minutes after the collision.
Analysis of his Apple Watch showed that his heartbeat was still being recorded when he was thrown from underneath the vehicle.
Medical evidence established that he had survived the initial impact but sustained fatal injuries during the subsequent journey beneath the SUV.
Cousin Told Richardson to Slow Down Before Collision
Ms Debotte, 27, gave evidence about the events leading up to the collision, describing how she had become frightened by Richardson’s driving.
She told the court that she had asked him to slow down shortly before the incident, but he responded with a smirk and said he was a professional driver.
As they approached the junction, she noticed that Richardson was not slowing down and shouted the word ‘bike’ three times.
Following the impact, she described his driving as erratic and said she could hear moaning sounds coming from beneath the vehicle.
She also told jurors that Richardson briefly stopped and attempted to pull Mr Mullins free before returning to the driver’s seat and continuing his journey.
According to her testimony, he then swerved repeatedly from side to side.
Richardson did not give evidence during his trial.
His defence barrister, Jaime Hamilton KC, challenged Ms Debotte’s account, suggesting that Richardson denied getting out of the vehicle or attempting to free the cyclist.
She rejected suggestions that she had altered her evidence to avoid getting herself into trouble.
Ms Debotte explained that she had been in shock and had never experienced anything similar, which accounted for her failure to contact emergency services that evening.
The court heard that she broke down at the nursery where she worked the following day and informed colleagues about what had happened before going to the police.
Richardson later changed vehicles, replacing the Volvo with a van. He was arrested the following day after a brief police pursuit, following contact between his cousin and the authorities.
Widow Says Her Life Has Been Torn Apart
Following the murder conviction, Mr Mullins’ wife, Sarah, and their two children delivered emotional victim impact statements describing the devastating effect of his death.
Sarah, who had been married to him for 27 years, told the court that her past, present and future had been brutally destroyed.
She said the memories they had created together were now permanently overshadowed by grief and described her husband as irreplaceable to his family, friends and school.
She added that the violent and painful circumstances of his death had left a wound that would never heal.
Describing her husband as the family’s anchor, she said they were completely bereft without him.
She also criticised Richardson’s actions, saying her husband had been deprived of future opportunities by someone who had contributed nothing to the community.
Children Describe Their Father as Their Everything
Mr Mullins’ son, Harry, condemned Richardson’s conduct, describing him as a true coward and someone unworthy of a place in society.
He said he would struggle to understand how a man who was so strong, kind and caring could have been killed through such abhorrent actions.
Harry told the court that his father had always supported him, particularly in rugby, regularly driving him to Sunday matches and cheering him on from the sidelines.
He said that support continued into adulthood, with his father frequently reminding him how proud he was.
Their final conversation before Mr Mullins dropped him at a station involved another expression of that pride.
His daughter, Maisie, also spoke about her father’s kindness and the important role he played in her life.
She recalled his love of music and his efforts to learn the guitar, as well as his habit of collecting her and her friends from concerts to ensure they got home safely.
She said he also enjoyed picking the family up from the airport after holidays so he could be the first to hear about their experiences.
Maisie told the court that she had promised herself she would live the rest of her life in a way that honoured her father and fulfilled the future he had hoped for her.
She described him as her family’s everything.
Police and School Pay Tribute to Michael Mullins
Following the guilty verdict, Detective Sergeant Tricia Solomon of Greater Manchester Police paid tribute to Mr Mullins, describing him as a kind and caring man who was loved by his family, friends, school and wider community.
She said he should have returned home safely to his family and would instead be remembered for the legacy he had left behind.
DS Solomon also praised his relatives for their courage and acknowledged those who had attempted to help him at the roadside.
Her remarks were met with applause from family members and supporters gathered outside the court.
Stretford Grammar School also expressed its grief over the loss of its headteacher, describing him as a uniquely talented leader with unshakeable principles.
Mr Mullins had led the school for 17 years and was praised for his quietly brilliant leadership, transformative vision and compassionate approach.
The school said he had been a source of consistent support for both students and staff.
Richardson, formerly of Sale, Greater Manchester, had denied murdering Mr Mullins and also denied the alternative charge of manslaughter.
A jury found him guilty of murder on Friday.
