5 hours ago
12
A driver and passenger who inhaled nitrous oxide while travelling at speeds of up to 139mph in a 30mph zone before a fatal collision have been jailed.
Uways Hussain, 20, and Usmon Mahmood, 23, filmed themselves inhaling the gas from a balloon, running red lights and weaving through traffic before hitting Sylvester Abayomi, 50, in Manchester.
Manchester crown court was shown footage of the collision, which happened at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway, at 4.30am on 9 March.
Abayomi’s partner, Denise Doyle, told the court: “Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man.
“He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did.”
Addressing the defendants, she added: “You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity.”
Hussain, who had indicated a guilty plea at magistrates court, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months’ detention after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen.
Mahmood, who initially told police he tried to warn his friend about his driving of the VW Golf GTI, was jailed for 12 years and nine months after he admitted aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving while uninsured.
Greater Manchester police said the sentences were believed to be among the highest for a death by dangerous driving offence involving a single fatality.
Judge Dean KC said: “I have seen CCTV images and video recordings on phones and they are terrifying.
“You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit.”
Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, said: “The Golf was driven by the first defendant, Uways Hussain.
“His friend Usmon Mahmood, the front seat passenger, was heard at times earlier on to be shouting encouragement.”
Following the crash, an Apple watch worn by Hussain called 999 automatically after detecting he had been in a collision, the court heard.
The pair were unwittingly recorded talking about calling an Uber to leave the scene and reporting the car as stolen.
Dean described the transcript of the call as “chilling”, adding: “It doesn’t reveal shock or concern for the victim.”
Shenton said the men left the scene and ran from officers when they were tracked down before being arrested.
Neil Ronan, defending, said Hussain was a law student who worked full-time at an airport.
Clare Ashcroft, defending Mahmood, said he had been about to start an apprenticeship with Network Rail.
She said: “He is starting to understand the impact of his behaviour. In my submission he is remorseful.”
