An Oldham man has been jailed for more than a decade for causing the death of a 25-year-old student due to dangerous driving in Manchester while drunk.

Ryan McElroy, of Apfel Lane, Chadderton, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on today (February 9) having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified last month.

On December 5 last year, McElroy was involved in a crash that led to the death of Louis Dube on Mount Road, Manchester.

Prosecution counsel Philip Hall told the court how McElroy drove to his father's address on the night of December 5 while already drunk and continued drinking alcohol for two-and-a-half hours before leaving.

McElroy, 35, then got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Crossland despite being heavily under the influence of alcohol and diazepam medication and having left his glasses, despite being "blind as a bat" when he did not wear them, according to his father.

On Mount Road at around 11.30pm, a Vauxhall Insignia driven by Nikita Balfour stopped to drop off a woman, before Ms Balfour tried to execute what Judge Patrick Field KC described as a "lawful manoeuvre" to turn the car around.

However, as she turned the car, in which Mr Dube was a passenger, McElroy crashed into the car while he was travelling between 49 and 60mph in a 30mph zone.

Both Ms Balfour and Mr Dube were taken to hospital, the former having suffered a fracture to her pelvis and Mr Dube having suffered "multiple serious injuries".

On December 9, Mr Dube's died in hospital as a result of the injuries.

At the scene of the crash, bodycam footage of a responding police officer showed McElroy giving a false name before lying and saying he was a passenger of the Vauxhall Crossland and that he had not been driving.

McElroy was too drunk to successfully provide a breath sample, and a blood sample taken later showed he had 274 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, putting him more than three times above the legal limit.

In Louis mother's victim personal statement, read out by Mr Hall, she said: "Louis was not only my son, but he was also my best friend, my mentor and the spiritual giant of our house.

"I now have a hole in my heart that no one will ever fill."

Defence counsel Adrian Palmer told the court McElroy expressed genuine regret and remorse for his actions but admitted there was no mitigation for his offences.

Judge Field sentenced McElroy to a total of 11 years and four months in prison and disqualified him from having a driving licence for 12 and a half years

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/23311547.oldham-drink-driver-jailed-killing-student-crash/

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/23311547.oldham-drink-driver-jailed-killing-student-crash/

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Spike

QUOTE: Judge Field sentenced McElroy to a total of 11 years and four months in prison and disqualified him from having a driving licence for 12 and a half years. ENDS

25 year driving ban then - not too shabby for killing a young man while drunk.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: Judge Field sentenced McElroy to a total of 11 years and four
> months in prison and disqualified him from having a driving licence for
> 12 and a half years. ENDS

> 25 year driving ban then - not too shabby for killing a young man while drunk.

Killing while cycling is a much cheaper alternative, usually a paltry fine.

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Spike

QUOTE: McElroy, 35, then got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Crossland despite being heavily under the influence of alcohol and diazepam medication and having left his glasses, despite being "blind as a bat" when he did not wear them, according to his father. ENDS

IOW a dead cert that he would kill some poor soul, which he did.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> QUOTE: McElroy, 35, then got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Crossland
> despite being heavily under the influence of alcohol and diazepam
> medication and having left his glasses, despite being "blind as a bat"
> when he did not wear them, according to his father. ENDS
>
> IOW a dead cert that he would kill some poor soul, which he did.

Post hoc ergo proper hoc

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Spike

QUOTE: However, as she turned the car, in which Mr Dube was a passenger, McElroy crashed into the car while he was travelling between 49 and 60mph in a 30mph zone.ENDS

"Not really speeding" according to the ABD.