A 20-year-old who inhaled nitrous oxide before and after hitting an elderly cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison
81-year-old Graham Slinn had dismounted from his bicycle and was walking across the A57 near Todwick when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by 20-year-old Cain Byrne on 4 April.
Sheffield Crown Court heard that Byne, who has never held a driving licence, failed to stop at the crossing and may have been driving at speeds of up to 80mph.
Byrne, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, fled the scene following the collision.
Witnesses reported that Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, failed to stop at the pedestrian crossing and was travelling well above the 50mph speed limit โ with one estimating his speed at 80mph.
Byrne, a father of two from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, previously admitted to causing death by dangerous driving
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC described Byrne’s actions as โincomprehensibly recklessโ and said he posed โa clear danger to the public.โ The court heard Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite never passing a driving test.
Today, Byrne was sentenced to 11 years and six months in a young offenders institution, with a further five years on extended licence. He was also disqualified from driving for 17 years and eight months.
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told the defendant: โYou are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour.โ
Footage played in court showed Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide from a yellow balloon while driving, both before and after the collision with Mr Slinn.
The court heard that Byrne fled the scene with two passengers, with dashcam footage capturing his tyres smoking as he appeared to struggle to control the vehicle.
Senior Officer in the case Chief Inspector Tom Woodward explains more around the work to convict Byrne, he said:โThrough good, investigative work at the scene in the immediacy after the collision, the SCU identified that the car involved in the collision was on a false registration plate.
โWe were able to show that Byrne had connections to the car, and he was quickly arrested, but we needed the car.
โWe spent hours trawling footage to piece together the carโs movements, while others were working hard to find the car, which was later found burned out in the Derbyshire area.
โA breakthrough in the investigation came when officers tracked the car from the scene of the collision to an address several miles away, as well as locations in between, that confirmed
โOur aim was to ensure he could never harm anyone in our communities again.โ
Byrne was re-arrested on the 12 April in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody and experienced detectives questioned him in multiple interviews.
He answered โno commentโ throughout and even when Grahamโs family tribute was read aloud to him, his coldness continued.
CI Woodward continued: โOur thoughts remain with Grahamโs family and friends, and I hope todayโs sentencing brings them some further closure knowing Byrne will now face a lengthy time in prison.
โWe know those involved in criminality are likely to take greater risks and Byrneโs behaviour is a true reflection of this and why the work of our roads policing officers is greatly important.
โWe are continuing to work hard to reduce casualties on the roads of South Yorkshire through education, prevention and deterring criminals from the use of our road network.
โI would also like to thank the public for your support during what was a challenging investigation, we are stronger with our communitiesโ help and it does not go unnoticed.โ
