Driver took part in 'race' with man who fled across Irish Sea after granddad killed

Adam Ross (30) is due to appear before Bolton Crown Court to learn his fate on Monday, December 4.

The court heard that Ross had been involved in a race with then 23-year-old Daniel Salvin on the roads of Bolton September 20 2019 when tragedy struck.

Salvin had been driving the Vauxhall Vetra that struck 59-year-old grandfather John Richardson as he was crossing the road on Rishton Lane, Great Lever.

Salvin, of Eustace Street in Great Lever, had set his car alight and fled to Larne in Northern Ireland in a bid to escape justice. However, he was convicted and sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for causing Mr Richardson’s death by dangerous driving.

Ross, of Daisy Street, Deane, had initially denied his part in the fatal race but was convicted this year after a trial of causing death by dangerous driving.

The court was told that Ross had become involved in criminality in the years since the grandfather's death. He was jailed for 27 months in December 2020 for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and, while still under investigation for causing Mr Richardson’s death, dangerous driving.

Ben Berkson, defending, claimed these further crimes had been sparked in part by the effect his earlier actions had had.

“The impact of what had happened in September 2019 had a downward spiral effect on his life, leading him to consume and then sell Class A drugs,” Mr Berson said, according to the Bolton News.

Mr Berkson said that Ross had “not been educated in the traditional sense since the age of nine” and was “naïve” and “easily manipulated.”

He also pointed out that Ross had not been driving the actual car that killed Mr Richardson and that the race was started by Salvin, who the defendant had not known.

Mr Berkson said: “There is no evidence that this was competitive racing between two people who knew each other.”

But Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said that the fact Ross had committed further crimes since the death of Mr Richardson counted against him.

He said: “All of that would have had a lot more force if he hadn’t gone out as he did dealing drugs and dangerous driving.”

Judge Clarke ordered that Ross be brought back before the court next month to allow him to explain his sentence to the “wider public”.

Ross will next appear before Bolton Crown Court to learn his fate on Monday December 4.

A statement written by Mr Richardson’s son John Stephens, which had been heard before by the court sitting in 2019, was read out by prosecutor Harriet Tighe.

She said: “Nobody should ever have to see their father lying on the ground.

“I held his hand whilst he was on the ground, and he effectively died at the scene."

Mr Richardson was taken to hospital after the incident but tragically died after an operation on his chest.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit and black gilet, Ross showed little emotion looking on from the dock as the statement was read out by Ms Tighe.