Drunken Motorist Who Collided With A Pedestrian In Stretford Has Been Jailed

A drunken motorist who collided with a pedestrian in Stretford on September  9 this year has been jailed.

Paul Tomlinson aged 33 of Helsby Road in Sale Moor was today December 22 sentenced to six years in prison and banned from driving for eight years at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Ar a previous hearing, Tomlinson pleaded guilty to causing the death of Susan Smythe, by dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to stop and report a collision.

At around 9pm on September 9, Tomlinson was driving his VW Golf along Wharfside Way in Trafford Park, when he almost collided with a vehicle waiting at a set of traffic lights, he was also seen mounting a kerb and narrowly avoiding collisions.

Tomlinson was driving along Chester Road collided with Ms Smythe at around 9pm at the junction with Green Lane, he was driving at speed and swerved erratically from the left lane and hit her.

Ms Smythe sadly suffered grave head injuries and confirmed dead at the scene by Paramedics.

Tomlinson failed to stop at the scene and before going home, he left his car at a nearby car park and wiped the steering wheel and doors with a pair of leggings.

He was later arrested at his home address before he was breathalyzed in custody and provided a recording of 137 mg of alcohol, the legal limit is 35 mg (micrograms)

Police Constable Anthony Pye of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Tomlinson was an enormous amount over the legal drink drive limit and was in no fit state to be behind the wheel that night.

“When he spoke with police afterwards, he was slurring his speech and unsteady on his feet.

“Despite repeated screams from his girlfriend to slow down, Tomlinson continued to drive erratically and was reaching speeds in excess of 60mph in 40mph zones.

“From the moment he put the keys in the ignition , he was an accident waiting to happen and narrowly avoided several collisions before he tragically collided with Susan.

“What makes this crime even worse is the fact that he failed to stop and even attempt to cover up what he’d done by cleaning his finger prints of the vehicle.

“No sentence can bring Susan back, but today’s outcome should provide a stark reminder of the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol.

“I hope it can at least bring some closure to Susan’s family and help prevent other lives being needlessly lost on our roads.”