Jail for four men who killed pedestrian with out-of-control lorry

Four men who were in an out-of-control stolen lorry which killed a pedestrian as it ploughed into three cars and a house have been given jail sentences of between 10 and a half and 13 years.

The men were sentenced following the death of mother-of-two Jacqueline Wileman, 58, who died instantly when she was hit by the eight tonne tractor unit in the village of Brierley, near Barnsley on September 14, last year.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Sheffield Crown Court Mrs Wileman was a wholly innocent victim who had been taking her usual “power walk” through the village when she was struck by the lorry which was travelling at 55mph.

Judge Richardson said the men had spent the day riding in the lorry, laughing and joking as the HGV was driven dangerously around South Yorkshire for hours.

He said: “Each one of you played a pivotal role in this protracted, persistent, determined and highly dangerous criminal escapade.

“You gave not a thought to the safety of others and exposed many people to the risk of death and serious injury whilst you executed what you thought was a caper but, in truth, was an exceptionally malevolent course of conduct which had an inevitable disastrous and catastrophic conclusion.”

The judge told them: “You killed an innocent pedestrian and nearly killed a cyclist in the dreadful events in the village of Brierley.

“It is nothing short of chance that more people were not killed or maimed by your conduct.”

The driver of the vehicle, Karn Hill, 23, of East View, Cudworth, South Yorkshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving before the trial and was jailed on Thursday for 10 and a half years.

Three other men denied the same charge but were found guilty by a jury on Wednesday.

David Mellor, 48, of Bank End Road, Worsbrough Dale, South Yorkshire, was jailed for 13 years.

Alan Mawhinney, 53, of Calder Crescent, Kendray, South Yorkshire, was jailed for 12 and a half years.

Wayne Carroll, 29, of Chestnut Street, Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, was jailed for 12 and a half years.

The judge heard that Carroll has a previous conviction for death by dangerous driving.