Motorist banned from road after causing five-car crash in Warrington

Dad-of-four Michael Molyneux was speeding through Stockton Heath in his yellow Ford Transit van when he lost control turning a bend on Chester Road, a court heard. Prosecuting, Will Griffin said that the incident occurred on June 8, 2023, at 4.05pm. “He lost control of his vehicle and collided with a Vauxhall Corsa,” he told Chester Crown Court on Thursday.

The defendant was driving the yellow Ford transit (Image: Supplied)Shocking CCTV footage showed the defendant’s vehicle accelerating towards a pedestrian stood on the pavement who had hold of his bike – forcing him to jump out of the way. “He is lucky to be alive,” judge Simon Berkson noted after watching the footage. The Ford Transit then collided with a stationary vehicle and caused a multi-car collision involving a total of five vehicles.

Several of the vehicles had to be written off due to the damage caused by the crash, with costs totalling to an eye-watering sum of GBP20,486. The pedestrian’s bike, which was taken out by the speeding van, was also damaged beyond repair, and there was damage caused to the property near to where the pedestrian was stood. It was confirmed that no-one was seriously hurt during the incident.

The crash happened on Chester Road (Image: Supplied)Molyneux, of Pine Avenue in Newton-le-Willows, fled from the scene, but contacted the police the following day to admit to dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty at the first magistrates court hearing, and has four previous convictions from six offences, the court heard. Defending, Joanne Maxwell said the defendant ‘showed genuine remorse’ for his actions.

“He has no explanation for it. It was a loss of control but of course the speed was obvious,” she said. “There was no deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.”

Pictured: Michael Molyneux (Image: Supplied)Before sentencing, judge Berkson addressed the defendant, saying: “Your vehicle in my judgement carried out a highly dangerous manoeuvre. “A pedestrian had to dive out of the way of your speeding vehicle. After fleeing the scene, the following day you went to the police to say it was you that was driving.”

Judge Berkson handed Molyneux a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work, and he has been disqualified from driving for a year.