World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Driver jailed for life after dragging cyclist to his death
Simon Richardson was jailed for life for murdering Michael Mullins in Greater Manchester.
Mullins, 56, was headteacher at Stretford Grammar School and was cycling home on 20 April when Richardson’s car struck him in Warburton.
Richardson drove on with Mullins trapped under his car for more than a mile, then tried to dislodge him on a farm track, the court heard.
Mullins died from multiple injuries, and his family described him as their anchor.
A judge said Richardson knowingly put a trapped, injured man at risk and called his actions a severe disregard for human life.
Richardson must serve at least 25 years in prison and has been banned from driving for life.
The life sentence and driving ban were imposed to punish the murder and protect the public.
Simon Richardson was jailed for life for murdering cyclist Michael Mullins, with a minimum term of 25 years.
Richardson struck Mullins, a headteacher cycling home, and dragged him under his car for more than a mile.
The collision happened in Warburton, Greater Manchester, on 20 April.
A jury found Richardson guilty of murder after hearing that he continued driving with Mullins trapped beneath the vehicle.
The judge also imposed a lifetime driving ban.
- Who
- Simon Richardson, 35, was sentenced for murdering Michael Mullins, 56.
- What
- Richardson was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 25 years, for dragging Mullins under his car.
- When
- The collision happened on 20 April; Richardson was sentenced on Monday, 2 November 2026.
- Where
- The collision happened in Warburton, Greater Manchester.
- Why
- The court heard Richardson drove on with Mullins trapped under his car after striking him. The judge said he did so because he considered escaping more important than a human life.
Simon Richardson
Prosecution
Knowledge of Mullins beneath the car
Simon Richardson
Richardson denied knowing Mullins was trapped beneath his car.
Prosecution
Prosecutors said Richardson knew Mullins was under the car and knew the consequences of driving on.
Verdict
Simon Richardson
Richardson denied the murder charge.
Prosecution
A jury found Richardson guilty of murder.
Richardson struck Mullins as he cycled home from Stretford Grammar School in Warburton.
Richardson drove more than a mile with Mullins trapped beneath his car, then stopped and tried to dislodge him.
A jury found Richardson guilty of murder.
Richardson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years and given a lifetime driving ban.
- Sentence
- Life imprisonment; minimum term of 25 years
- Victim
- Michael Mullins, 56
- Defendant
- Simon Richardson, 35
- Collision location
- Warburton, Greater Manchester
- Distance dragged
- More than a mile
- Driving ban
- Lifetime
3 sources
What people are saying
astonishing degree of disregard for human life
You deliberately used your car as a weapon over a prolonged period.
My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart, my present is empty and often seems to be without purpose.
and he inevitably knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway