Teenager sentenced after running over and killing restaurateur with his own car
A teenager who ran over and killed a Stockport restaurant owner as he stole his vehicle has been sentenced to four years and nine months in detention.
The 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, sped off in Mohammed Islam's silver Mercedes as the owner shouted "No! No! No!" and held on to the car.
Islam, 53, who came to the UK alone from Bangladesh as a 14-year-old, had worked "tirelessly" all his life, first to bring his family over to Britain and then to build up a successful restaurant business.
He went "flying" as the teenager "floored" the vehicle, Manchester Crown Court heard.
The victim then went under the car, which drove over his head, causing unsurvivable brain injuries. He died two days later in hospital on 10 January 2021, following the incident in Romiley, Stockport.
His daughter, Nasrin Choudhory, read a victim impact statement to the court as the defendant and a co-accused listened in the dock.
The car had been a 25th wedding anniversary present from his two grown-up sons and daughter.
She said: "I don't think you realise what you have done. The void that has been left has not been filled. Dad dying has hit mum so hard. I can't remember the last time I saw her smile. I have not had many good days. He was not only an immeasurable loss to my family but the whole community. Dad was the foundation of our home."
The teenager, who has an IQ of 66, putting him in the bottom 1% for his age group, admitted manslaughter at an earlier hearing. Now aged 15, he also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.
Sentencing the defendant, Judge Nicholas Dean QC, Honorary Recorder of Manchester, said: "The family have had a light extinguished in their life. The profound grief of the family will live with them for many years."
Earlier, Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, told the court the defendant, then aged just 14, was among a group of five who travelled in a Ford Transit van using cloned false registration plates, loaned out by criminals. The gang was looking for a vehicle to steal and sell on.
Islam owned the Marple Spice restaurant in Marple and was finishing his working day when he told staff he would deliver an order of food himself as the house was on his way home. As he was at the door of the house in Romiley, about to hand over the food, the teenager jumped in the driver's seat of his car, the court heard.
Mr Wright said witnesses saw Islam shouting and grabbing the side of the car, which at first was stationary.
He continued: "That did not deter the defendant, who then drove off at considerable speed with Mr Islam holding on to the car.
"Other members of the public saw Mr Islam clinging to the side of the vehicle, one said the car was travelling at the sort of speed I have seen on Top Gear when they completely floor it.
"The vehicle travelled 30 metres until he was thrown from the car. All the injuries were consistent with him having been thrown from the vehicle with his head striking the ground, then him being run over by the vehicle itself over his head."
Police soon traced the teenager and arrested him the same day Islam died in hospital. On his phone were photos and videos of him behind the wheel of the stolen car, which the gang had tried to sell, the court heard.
But following Islam's death and the publicity, they instead burnt it to destroy evidence.
Simon Csoka QC, mitigating, said the teenager has significant learning difficulties and an attention deficit disorder, but was now making progress.
He added: "He does have comprehension of the enormity of the loss he has caused."
Co-defendant Connor Read, 18, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal, was given 13 months' detention suspended for two years and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work. A second teenager, aged 15, is yet to be sentenced for conspiracy to steal. Two others, both aged 18, were due in court on the same charge today.
