Mum killed in hit-and-run days before Christmas - then banned driver blamed her

19 October 2023 , 22:02

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Anne Jones was described by her husband as 'loving and generous' (Image: MEN Media)

A much-loved mum who was on her way to a meal with her husband just days before Christmas was left to die on the road after she was hit by a Mercedes driver travelling at double the speed limit.

But despite John Brazil, 28, speeding at 60mph whilst already banned from driving and fleeing the scene instead of helping, he claimed 60-year-old Anne Jones was the one to blame for her own death. He handed himself into police the day after he mowed her down in Rochdale, but still insisted in his interview: “It wasn’t my fault, she just ran out.”

John Brazil will spend time in prison over Anne's death (MEN Media)

Anne, who worked with Rochdale council, was so popular in the area that 400 people turned out for her funeral. Around two dozen devastated family members packed Minshull Street Crown Court to hear the details of the case. Her husband told Brazil: "You are a coward, you ran away from the situation. Society at large needs to be protected from John Brazil… the world and the lives of everyone who knew her will never be as happy as they could have been with Anne in it.”

Brazil, of Waithlands Road in Rochdale, later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving during the incident on December 19, 2021 and was sentenced to nine years and nine months, half of which will be served in prison, reports Manchester Evening News.

Prosecuting, Harriet Tighe told how Brazil got behind the wheel of a Mercedes belonging to a friend who he was staying with. He later returned 'crying' and looking 'scared', telling them: "I've hit somebody, I've hit somebody." Asked if the person was okay, Brazil said he 'didn't know'. After hearing of the death, Brazil’s friend urged him to hand himself in to police and the following day he turned up at Bury police station. The judge accepted that Brazil’s remorse was genuine and a barrister read out a letter submitted on his behalf, in which he said: "From the bottom of my heart, I am truly and deeply sorry."

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Andrew Bardsley