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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Carjack killer sentenced to life | Carjack killer sentenced to life |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man has been jailed for life after knocking down and killing a grandmother in a car stolen from her sister. | A man has been jailed for life after knocking down and killing a grandmother in a car stolen from her sister. |
| Pamela Phinn, 48, tried to push her two grandchildren away from the speeding car which was being followed by police in South Shields, Tyneside, on 11 May. | Pamela Phinn, 48, tried to push her two grandchildren away from the speeding car which was being followed by police in South Shields, Tyneside, on 11 May. |
| Paul Wales, 47, from Gorst Street in the Walton area of Liverpool, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. | Paul Wales, 47, from Gorst Street in the Walton area of Liverpool, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. |
| He will serve a minimum of four years and four months. | He will serve a minimum of four years and four months. |
| The Honda Civic came around a tight left-hand bend before hitting the family group on the pavement on Horsley Hill Road, throwing the grandmother 20ft into the air. | The Honda Civic came around a tight left-hand bend before hitting the family group on the pavement on Horsley Hill Road, throwing the grandmother 20ft into the air. |
| The life-long car criminal | |
| Mrs Phinn's daughter-in-law Kelly Laws, 28, and her two grandchildren, Dean, aged 18 months, and seven-month-old Mia, were also injured. | Mrs Phinn's daughter-in-law Kelly Laws, 28, and her two grandchildren, Dean, aged 18 months, and seven-month-old Mia, were also injured. |
| The car belonged to Mrs Phinn's sister Diane Dalton, also of South Shields, and had been stolen from around a mile away when Wales threatened her with a screwdriver, Newcastle Crown Court heard. | The car belonged to Mrs Phinn's sister Diane Dalton, also of South Shields, and had been stolen from around a mile away when Wales threatened her with a screwdriver, Newcastle Crown Court heard. |
| Witnesses estimated his speed through South Shields town centre at up to 80mph. | Witnesses estimated his speed through South Shields town centre at up to 80mph. |
| Northumbria Police said Wales had fled "associates" in Liverpool and his mother had sent him to stay with a family friend in South Shields only two days before the crash. | Northumbria Police said Wales had fled "associates" in Liverpool and his mother had sent him to stay with a family friend in South Shields only two days before the crash. |
| Speaking after the sentencing on Monday, Det Ch Insp Tim Walker said: "It's difficult to explain the extraordinary coincidences that led to these tragic circumstances. | Speaking after the sentencing on Monday, Det Ch Insp Tim Walker said: "It's difficult to explain the extraordinary coincidences that led to these tragic circumstances. |
| Public danger | Public danger |
| "Obviously Mrs Dalton had her car hijacked by Wales possibly only a mile away from where her sister was ultimately killed, and it was a tragic set of circumstances." | "Obviously Mrs Dalton had her car hijacked by Wales possibly only a mile away from where her sister was ultimately killed, and it was a tragic set of circumstances." |
| The court heard that Wales was a life-long car thief and that after the incident he told officers: "I am sorry for what I have done. I'll pay for it with my own life if I have to." | The court heard that Wales was a life-long car thief and that after the incident he told officers: "I am sorry for what I have done. I'll pay for it with my own life if I have to." |
| Wales also admitted driving without insurance and driving not in accordance with his licence. | Wales also admitted driving without insurance and driving not in accordance with his licence. |
| Judge John Milford QC told him: "You will be imprisoned indefinitely and you will be eligible for release when you have served the minimum term, but only when the parole board deem you safe." | Judge John Milford QC told him: "You will be imprisoned indefinitely and you will be eligible for release when you have served the minimum term, but only when the parole board deem you safe." |