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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Moment driver, 20, inhales laughing gas behind wheel before ploughing into elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead
THIS is the moment a driver inhales laughing gas behind the wheel before ploughing into an elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead. Cain Byrne, 20, was seen holding an inflated balloon moments before he killed 81-year-old Graham Slinn earlier this year. 7 7 7 Byrne jumped a red light at speed and hit Slinn as he crossed the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, on April 4. The cold-hearted driver from Chesterfield then sped off without stopping and was so intoxicated he didn't even realise he had fatally hit a pedestrian. Byrne left members of the public to help Slinn but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Footage shown in court showed Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon several times while driving, before and after the collision. Slinn was a retired builder who was a keen singer in a local church and a valued member of the community. He was weeks away from celebrating his Diamond Wedding anniversary with his wife when he was killed. During Byrne's hearing, the courtroom heard he was a disqualified driver, driving without a license and insurance and using a false cloned number plate on the car. South Yorkshire Police were able to identify Byrne as having connections to the car with a false registration plate and he was arrested before being released on bail. Senior Officer in the case Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said: "We spent hours trawling footage to piece together the car's movements, while others were working hard to find the car, which was later found burned out in the Derbyshire area." Shock moment driver ploughs into cyclist on quiet country road before speeding off claiming 'I thought it was a sheep!' A breakthrough came when officers tracked the car from the collision to an an address several miles away. CI Woodward added: "Our aim was to ensure he could never harm anyone in our communities again.' Byrne was re-arrested on April 12 in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody where he was questioned by detectives. Byrne answered "no comment" throughout even when Slinn's family tribute was read aloud to him. However, he knew the evidence was stacked against him and pleaded guilty at a hearing in May. The court also heard how Byrne had convictions for 27 previous offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving license. Byrne was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and other offences. CI Woodward said: 'Our thoughts remain with Graham's family and friends, and I hope today's sentencing brings them some further closure knowing Byrne will now face a lengthy time in prison. 'We know those involved in criminality are likely to take greater risks and Byrne's behaviour is a true reflection of this and why the work of our roads policing officers is greatly important." Sentencing Byrne, Judge Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was an "exceptionally dangerous act while driving", and told Byrne that Slinn had "died of grievous injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving". Richardson told Byrne: "You are a dangerous offender. "The public must be protected from your deviant, dangerous, and ingrained criminal behaviour." In addition to Byrne's 16 and a half year prison sentence, he was further banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. 7 7
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Hit-and-run driver inhaled laughing gas moments before killing pensioner
A hit-and-run driver inhaled laughing gas from a balloon moments before running over and killing an elderly cyclist. Cian Byrne, 20, hit Graham Slinn, 81, at a pedestrian crossing near Todwick, South Yorkshire. He ignored a red light and was well over the 50mph limit when he hit his victim. Sheffield Crown Court heard Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and could have been travelling at up to 80mph. On Monday, he was sentenced to 11 years and six months in a young offenders institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. Father-of-two Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, had admitted causing death by dangerous driving and other offences at a previous hearing. An earlier hearing was told Mr Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Byrne. The defendant sped off with two passengers after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. A montage of footage shown in court showed him inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon several times before and after the collision with Mr Slinn. One of these was just moments after he hit the former builder, who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after he retired and was weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline. Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was 'an exceptionally dangerous act while driving'. He said Byrne 'endured a dreadful upbringing' and 'had known very few boundaries' in his life. He told him: 'You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour.' The court heard Byrne had convictions for 27 offences including dangerous driving, despite having no licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. Mrs Slinn had said she and her husband met through a love of cycling. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Cycling was a lifelong passion After the sentencing, Mr Slinn's daughter Nicola and son Victor described their father as 'kind to his core'. They said: 'On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike. 'Cycling was a lifelong passion and a shared family activity. He always took safety incredibly seriously and had planned his route to stick to quiet lanes and cycle paths. 'Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe – dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrian and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing – on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going, as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing. 'But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many.' In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said Mr Slinn's death had left a profound silence at the heart of their home. They added: 'To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active and to know their death was 100 per cent avoidable is doubly cruel.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
VW Golf driver, 20, inhaled laughing gas behind wheel and killed elderly cyclist in hit and run then took drug AGAIN while fleeing
A driver who inhaled laughing gas before killing an elderly cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been locked up for more than 11 years. Cain Byrne, 20, who had never held a driving licence, mowed down 81-year-old Graham Slinn at 80mph after ignoring a red light. The pensioner, a former builder, was thrown at least 15ft into the air by Byrne's Volkswagen Golf as he wheeled his bicycle across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire. CCTV showed that Byrne was inhaling nitrous oxide from a yellow balloon while driving – including moments before and after the fatal collision on April 4. Sheffield Crown Court heard he made no attempt to stop after hitting Mr Slinn, who had dismounted his bike and was crossing the road. Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, fled the scene as dashcam footage showed his tyres smoking while trying to control the car. Mr Slinn, who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after he retired, was just weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with wife Jacqueline. Sentencing Byrne to 11 years and six months in a young offenders' institution, Judge Jeremy Richardson said inhaling nitrous oxide while driving was 'an exceptionally dangerous act'. 'You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour,' he told him. He said Mr Slinn was 'crossing the road entirely lawfully, in accordance with the green light for him' and had died of injuries inflicted by Byrne's 'truly appalling driving'. The judge said Byrne had 'endured a dreadful upbringing' and 'had known very few boundaries' in his life. Byrne, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving and other offences, had 27 previous convictions – including for dangerous driving – despite having no licence. He was due to be sentenced last month, but the judge ordered a probation report after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' record. Rebecca Stephens, defending, claimed Byrne believed he had only clipped another vehicle with his wing mirror and panicked. A montage of footage shown in court captured Byrne inhaling gas multiple times during his drive. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months, and must serve an extended licence period of five years. Mr Slinn's widow Jacqueline told a previous hearing: 'Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant.' She said they met through a shared love of cycling and that her husband rode his bike several times a week and sang in pubs and clubs around Sheffield. After the sentencing, their children Nicola and Victor described him as 'kind to his core' and said his death was '100% avoidable'. 'On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike – something he had loved since his youth, when he used to race,' they said. 'Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe – dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing – on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going, as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing. 'But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many.' In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said his death had left a 'profound silence at the heart of their home'. 'To lose any loved one is a shock,' they said. 'But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Driver who inhaled nitrous oxide gas before and after killing cyclist jailed
A man who was driving without a licence and inhaled nitrous oxide before and after killing an 81-year-old cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for more than 11 years. Cain Byrne, 20, jumped a red light at speeds significantly higher than the 50mph limit and hit Graham Slinn as he crossed the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, on 4 April. Sheffield crown court heard Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop and could have been travelling at up to 80mph, according to a witness. On Monday he was sentenced to 11 years and six months' detention in a young offender institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. Byrne, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and other offences at a previous hearing. An earlier hearing was told Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Byrne. Byrne, who was carrying two passengers, then sped off, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. Footage shown in court showed him inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon several times as he was driving, before and after the collision. The court heard Slinn, a retired builder who helped care for adults with learning disabilities, was weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Jaqueline. In a statement, his wife said they had met through a love of cycling and that her husband rode his bike several times a week. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield, she said. Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was an 'exceptionally dangerous act while driving', and told the defendant that Slinn had 'died of injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving'. The judge said Byrne 'endured a dreadful upbringing' and 'had known very few boundaries' in his life, but told the defendant: 'You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour.' Byrne was due to be sentenced last month but, after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' driving record, Richardson said he wanted a report prepared by probation officers. The court heard Byrne had convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. After the sentencing, Slinn's daughter Nicola, and son Victor, said the death of their 'kind to his core' father was '100% avoidable'. They said cycling was his 'lifelong passion and a shared family activity', and that their father 'always took safety incredibly seriously.' 'Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe – dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing – on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going, as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing,' they said. 'But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many.' In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said: 'To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Driver who inhaled laughing gas before crash jailed
An unlicensed driver who inhaled laughing gas just moments before he killed a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash has been jailed. Cain Byrne, 20, ignored a red light and was driving at more than 50mph when he crashed into 81-year-old Graham Slinn as he was walking his bike across the A57 near Todwick, in South Yorkshire. Mr Slinn was thrown at least 15ft (4.5m) in the air and died at the scene of the crash on 4 April. Jailing Byrne, of Redvers Buller Road, Chesterfield, for 11 year and six months, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he had shown "a complete lack of self control" and an "utter disregard for the law". Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance at Sheffield Crown Court in May. At a previous hearing the court was shown CCTV footage of Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide, known as "laughing gas", from a balloon both before and after the crash while driving a Volkswagen Golf. The court heard after hitting Mr Slinn, who was just weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline - Byrne sped off, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. Rebecca Stephens, defending, previously told the court he drove away thinking he had only hit a vehicle with his wing mirror, which Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said showed how "completely inebriated" he had been. Meanwhile, prosecutor Laura Marshall told the judge that Byrne had 27 previous convictions, including for dangerous driving. Judge Richardson described Byrne as someone with a "hardened determination to commit repeated dangerous crime". "There is no sign of this stopping, it is getting worse," he added. Byrne was told that on release from prison he would serve an additional five years on licence and would be disqualified from driving for 17 years and eight months. Mr Slinn's daughter, Nicola Timmis, told a previous hearing the loss of her father had left her feeling "hollow". "How could anybody do that to my dad?," She said. "My dad isn't somebody who deserved to be treated like that. To have someone drive through him like he's nothing. He's not nothing, he's my dad." Mr Slinn's widow, Jacqueline Slinn, told the court they had met in1961 through their love of cycling. She said her husband's death "has had a massive impact on my life". She added: "Since we've been retired we've done most things together, so I'm finding it really really lonely at the moment." She described Byrne's decision to not stop the car after hitting her husband as "horrendous". "We were always together, for 60 years, nearly, and I have to face this all on my own", she added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. More on this story Driver inhaled laughing gas before fatal crash Man admits causing 81-year-old cyclist's death Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
