Motorist caused M62 crash death after nitrous oxide binge
Shaun Tinsley smashed into another car on the motorway in Warrington "like a missile", with estimates stating that he was travelling at 113mph at the time.
The 28-year-old, who was disqualified at the time – despite never passing a driving test – had also binged on nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, beforehand.
The driver of the other car later died in hospital after suffering ‘extensive and severe’ injuries, with a heartbreaking tribute being paid to him by his partner in court.
Tinsley appeared before Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.
He also admitted charges of causing death by driving while disqualified, causing death by driving while uninsured and driving without insurance.
The case proceeded to sentence, with Ian Whitehurst, prosecuting, explaining how the crash occurred at around 3.45am on Saturday, April 19.
Cheshire Police was called to reports of a two-vehicle collision near to junction 10 of the M62 eastbound, for the M6 at Croft Interchange.
Officers attended the scene and on arrival they found the collision involved a grey Mercedes and a silver Skoda Fabia.
The court heard that Tinsley was driving the Mercedes CLA 180 at "excessive speeds" when he crashed into the Skoda Fabia being driven by Paul Loller, from Wirral.
Mr Loller, aged 61, suffered "extensive, severe injuries to his chest" and later died after being rushed to Warrington Hospital.
One witness on the motorway said he saw Tinsley, of Deysbrook Way in Liverpool, travelling at high speed in the left-hand lane.
The defendant swerved left, then right before the collision and ‘violently span off’, before colliding with the central reservation.
Several other road users stopped to help Mr Loller in the aftermath, while two men, including Tinsley, were seen to run away.
A third occupant of the Mercedes was prevented from fleeing by a witness, while a fourth remained injured in the rear of the car. Both were subsequently arrested.
Once told police he had seen the car’s speedometer reach up to 134mph before the crash.
The crash occurred on the M62. Picture: Google Maps
The M62 was closed for around 24 hours following the crash, and Cheshire Police then launched an appeal for information, witnesses and dashcam footage in a bid to locate Tinsley.
He was arrested on May 5 at Beaufort Park Hotel near Mold in north Wales while he ‘lay in bed with a woman’ and gave no comment to questions during his interview.
CCTV footage taken at a petrol station on the night of the crash showed the nitrous oxide cannisters being passed around the Mercedes.
The driver was seen inhaling from a round object, with Tinsley’s DNA found on one of several deflated balloons recovered from inside, alongside nitrous oxide cannisters.
Expert crash investigators concluded that the car had been travelling at an estimated 113mph when it crashed into Mr Loller’s vehicle.
Mr Whitehurst revealed to the court that Tinsley has 21 previous convictions for 36 offences, including for dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance in November 2010.
The defendant was then further convicted of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance that same month.
Regarding this latest disgraceful driving on the M62, Mr Whitehurst said Tinsley has a ‘flagrant disregard for the rules of the road and the safety of others’.
In an impact statement, Mr Loller’s partner of 43 years said: “ How can I express in word the utter devastation, shock, intense sorrow and pain Paul's loss has caused me?
“Paul meant everything to me. A huge void will always remain. My future does not exist in the way I hoped for or expected.
“I will be living in the past and just existing day to day. I have lost the love of my life and my partner.
“No more will we share our lives, our hopes and wishes and making new memories. Our lives were interwoven and have now been cruelly separated.”
On behalf of Tinsley, who the court heard has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD, Paul Lewis, defending, said: “What he would like, through me, to say is that he does not expect to receive and nor does he ask for forgiveness.
“He does not and cannot forgive himself. He knows he has wrecked their family.
“He accepts his driving was unforgivable, and he only hopes that by pleading guilty that the agony the Loller family have suffered and continue to suffer will in some small way be abated.”
Before sentencing, judge Andrew Menary commented: “There is no evidence to suggest that Mr Loller was doing anything other than driving his car in a perfectly normal and careful manner.
Shaun Tinsley was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court
“Not much is known about what you were doing that night. You were out with three other males in this vehicle, and you had been consuming quantities of nitrous oxide.
“The effect on a person who has taken that chemical is to give an immediate sense of euphoria. It is common that there is an inevitable side effect of temporary confusion and detachment.
“Plainly, it should not be taken while driving. The tragic facts of this case are sadly not unusual.”
He added that Tinsley was travelling at such a ‘grossly excessive speed’ that Mr Loller ‘stood no chance at all’, stating: “It must have seemed to him as though his vehicle had been hit by a missile.”
“You, in a cowardly way, left and ran off. You laid low and were arrested about a week later.”
Addressing the impact on Mr Loller’s partner, Judge Menary said: “One can only begin to imagine the terrible grief she has suffered as a consequence of this senseless activity.
“She speaks of her immense sense of loss and the incalculable impact on everyone who knew and loved this kind and considerate man.”
Tinsley was jailed for nine years and four months, of which he will serve up to two thirds of in prison before being released on licence.
He was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and two months.
The sentence was welcomed by Sergeant Russell Sime, of the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit at Cheshire Police.
He said: “Tinsley’s selfish and cowardly actions resulted in the death of an innocent man, and I welcome the sentence that has been handed to him.
“He caused this crash, but rather than stop at the scene to help the other driver and face the consequences of his actions, he chose to flee.
“He then went into hiding in an attempt to evade justice. Thankfully, as result of our investigation, he has now been held accountable for his actions.
“I hope in some way the sentence that has been passed down by the courts to Tinsley will help bring some comfort to the victim’s family.
“Our thoughts remain firmly with them as they will continue to deal with the devastating outcome of this heart-breaking incident every day.”