Life sentence for man who hit 87-year-old grandfather at bus stop in stolen car
Gavin Collins smashed the patio doors of a house before hitting Terry Radford, who was stood at a bus stop.
A man who killed an 87-year-old grandfather after driving into him at a bus stop in a stolen car has been handed a life sentence.
Dashcam footage released by police shows Gavin Collins, 39, driving at speed and overtaking vehicles before losing control and crashing into a house in Nottingham on April 19 last year.
Driving another stolen car, Collins later reversed at speed and mounted the pavement before hitting retired teacher Terry Radford in Mansfield Woodhouse.
Mr Radford, who was a former councillor and magistrate and described as “the most wonderful dad and granddad”, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Collins, from Tibshelf, Derbyshire, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years at Nottingham Crown Court last week after he was found guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility, Nottinghamshire Police said.
Collins burst into a man’s house in Tibshelf on the morning of April 19 last year before grabbing his car keys and shouting he was borrowing the car before driving off towards Nottingham.
Dashcam footage captured the moment he crashed into a house in Mansfield Road as the homeowner jumped out of the way.
He then got into a woman’s car and forced her out of it before driving off towards Mansfield Woodhouse, but got out minutes later after crashing into some barriers.
Footage released by police shows Collins ramming a police car and reversing through a garden wall as he made his escape.
He was finally arrested after being dragged out of the car by officers brandishing Tasers after he crashed into a tree.
In a statement after his death, his family said: “We’re absolutely devastated at the loss of the most wonderful dad and granddad who was loved and respected by everyone.
“He was the hub of our family. He was 87 but remained intelligent, articulate and funny. He was great company to be with and was as sharp as a pin.
“He was extremely fit and most people took him for a healthy 70-year-old. Having looked after mum who had extreme dementia, and who we lost last September, he was finally getting his life back.”
“Our thoughts continue to be with them at this extremely difficult time as well as with those people affected by Collins’ actions that day.
“I would like to thank the officers and emergency services staff who responded to this incident and the team that subsequently worked thoroughly and professionally on a difficult investigation in order to secure this result at court today.”
