The dad reported his van stolen after his friend ran a red light in the vehicle and fatally struck an 81-year-old jogger
A dad called 999 and falsely reported that his van had been stolen during a night in the pub after his workmate ran a red light in the vehicle and fatally struck a pensioner. John Newton was out jogging on February 25 last year when he was hit by a Ford Transit van as he crossed Utting Avenue East in Norris Green.
The “fit and healthy” grandad, who still worked as a part-time mechanic, was left dying in the street before succumbing to his “catastrophic” injuries in hospital the following day, aged 81. “Cowardly” Christopher Daly, who had been banned from the roads for more than 20 years, callously fled the scene of the crash then denied that he had been driving when police came knocking at his door.
His colleague Patrick Heron meanwhile sought to assist in covering his tracks by reporting the vehicle, which was hired in his name, stolen. The gas fitter was left blowing a kiss to his tearful loved ones as he too was locked up this afternoon.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Thursday, that Heron and Daly had exchanged a series of phone calls in the hours following the crash, as well as the following day. A man named only as “Darren” meanwhile sent the former a picture of Merseyside Police recovering the damaged van from outside the latter’s home address the same evening.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, described how the 38-year-old defendant, of Ashdale Road in Mossley Hill, then made an emergency call from a phonebooth outside the Clubmoor in Anfield at around 1pm the following day, reporting that his van had been stolen from near to the same pub the previous evening. A recording of this exchange was played to the court, with Heron having told the call handler: “Hiya love, I just need to report my van stolen.
“I’ve woke up this morning. My key and my van’s nowhere to be seen. I’ve mislaid them in the pub somewhere, or they’ve been taken without me noticing. I got a taxi home last night, because I had a drink.
“I came back to look for my keys, and the van has gone as well. They’re both nowhere to be seen. I’ve had a few sherbets, I’ve been on the pints. I was a little bit drunk, d’ya know what I mean? I lost my phone too.”
Heron, who said that he had left the pub at around 10pm, claimed that he had parked the van on a street near to the premises, away from CCTV cameras which would have covered its car park. His 999 call also ultimately led to him being arrested on suspicion of being the driver.
The ECHO previously reported that Daly, of Walton Village, Walton, was travelling along the 30mph limit road in the early evening when he switched lane without indicating “in close proximity” to another vehicle to his rear. Then, as the dad approached the junction of Parthenon Drive and Lorenzo Drive, a set of traffic lights changed from green to amber.
Instead of stopping however, the 42-year-old sped up to between 44 and 56 mph, with the lights changing to red before he passed through them. Mr Newton was meanwhile crossing the road at the other side of the junction while out for a jog and was struck by Daly’s van, with his “bright yellow cap thrown into the air from the force of the collision”.
This distinctive item of clothing would subsequently be used by detectives in order to help establish his identity. Mr Newton suffered “catastrophic injuries” as a result of the incident and died in hospital on February 26 from “massive blunt force head and chest injuries”.
Daly meanwhile sped off from the scene of the crash, leaving his victim lying gravely injured in the road. He then abandoned his “extensively damaged” vehicle and, despite being later linked to the van by his fingerprints, claimed he had not been the driver when arrested on March 1 2024.
His criminal record includes scores of previous court appearances for motoring offences, including being ordered not to drive until he passed an extended retest in 2003. However, he never did so, meaning that he had not legally been able to drive for around 21 years at the time of the incident.
Tom Watson, defending Heron, told the court that his client had been seriously injured in an unrelated crash the previous year, adding: “He expresses his apology and has reflected that a family have suffered and lost a member. Importantly, I submit that this defendant has been making significant efforts in the recent past to turn his life around.
“There is no getting away from the fact that, as a youth, he got himself into a lot of trouble. What the court may think is impressive is the fact that, having worked as a labourer, he actually made the effort to go the college and qualify as a gas fitter.
“There is a side to this man which is positive, constructive and determined, despite what he has done. He has been with his partner now for three years. He has been living with her since the accident in 2023. He is a father figure to her two children, as well as playing an active role in the lives of his own children. In two days’ time, it is his daughter’s communion.
“He is concerned and anxious about what will happen to him, but his concern is very much for his family and the mess that he has created for them. He knows that he has visited this upon them. He knows it is his behaviour and his actions and has taken responsibility.
“He has also gone through the process of joining Alcoholics Anonymous. He has clearly accepted that he has an alcohol problem and, also, a linked problem with illicit substances. It is principally his drinking, because, when he is not drinking, the other problems do not arise.
“He has been alcohol free now for a few weeks. He says he feels healthier and better for it. When drinking, he would not stop drinking and then turn to illicit substances. He is doing his best to get that under control. It was an important step for him to join Alcoholics Anonymous.
“He has to come to terms with what he has done. He is already a hard working man and will continue to work hard, deal with his alcohol issues, be a productive member of society and continue to be supportive to his family.”
Heron admitted one count of perverting the course of justice. Appearing in the dock wearing a black polo shirt and sporting short grey hair, he bowed his head as he was jailed for 14 months then blew a kiss to his tearful partner in the public gallery while being led to the cells.
Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “John Newton was a much loved individual by his family and friends. He was very active. He was knocked down on the evening of the 25th of February last year, while jogging, by Christopher Daly, who was driving a van which you had hired dangerously.
“Your role was to tell the police that the van which was used in this way by Daly had in fact been stolen by somebody from a street. The underlying offence that was under investigation was extremely serious. He lay seriously ill in hospital.
“You must have realised, by a combination of what you were told and what you had learned, that this was far more serious than a damage only accident, and that the police were investigating a potentially very serious offence. You had, in spite of your efforts and intentions, limited impact on the investigation, but that is of limited credit to you.
“Your previous convictions are extensive. They could be said to display a selfish disregard for others. You have done, in the past, whatever suits your own interests. Mr Daly was a colleague and close associate of yours. I am satisfied that you must have known of his inability to drive.
“Others who know you paint a different side to you, particularly of more recent years. It is clear to me that you have attempted to put some of your behaviour behind you. Your wish to be a positive impact in the lives of your children is, of course, to your credit.
“What I am unable to accept is that there is any real, genuine remorse here. You effectively dragged out and put off any acknowledgement other than a minimal acceptance of things, even then at the last minute.”
Daly was unanimously found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury of six men and six women, having previously admitted causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while disqualified and uninsured. He was jailed for 12 years in August last year.