A rogue roofer has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years after admitting to causing the death of a mother-of-three during a police chase that ended on a golf course.
John McDonald, 52, was sentenced after his van struck 62-year-old Suzanne Cherry at Aston Wood Golf Club in Shenstone, Staffordshire, last April.
Ms Cherry was playing golf with her husband, Clint Harrison, and was searching for her ball near a stream when McDonaldâs vehicle ploughed into her. She sustained multiple catastrophic injuries and died in hospital on 15 April, the day before her 63rd birthday.
Worcester Crown Court heard details of the dangerous pursuit that preceded the tragedy. McDonaldâs van, which had already damaged at least five other vehicles, reached speeds of 70mph in 30mph zones, drove on the wrong side of the road, and mounted pavements. During the 12-minute chase, he rammed a police car at least eight times before turning onto the golf course. Collision investigators stated the van was travelling at 41mph just five seconds before its airbags deployed.
The court heard McDonald had braked four-and-a-half seconds before the impact, with Ms Cherry coming into view five seconds before, making a collision inevitable.
McDonald and his passengers Brett Delaney, 35, and McDonaldâs son Johnny McDonald, 23, fled the scene after causing catastrophic injuries to Ms Cherry, with prosecution counsel Michael Burrows KC telling the court the driver stepped over her body as he ran away.
While Delaney and Johnny McDonald are not held responsible for the collision, the pair, along with John McDonald, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to poor roofing work carried out under the guise of a company called Approved Roofs Ltd in the West Midlands.
When the van caught the attention of the police in Kingstanding, Birmingham, on the morning of the fatal collision, they had been following an elderly customer to a cash machine for payment after carrying out substandard work on her roof.
The court heard tens of thousands of pounds had been received from elderly victims for poor and unnecessary roof works.
Jailing all three defendants, who looked down at the floor in the dock, Judge James Burbidge KC said: âSuzanne Cherry and her husband, two people who wholly abide by the law and had everything to look forward to together, were playing golf when you three, in pursuing your criminal ambitions to defraud elderly and vulnerable victims and having been spotted by police, sought to escape punishment.â
Addressing John McDonald, who wore jeans and a brown jacket in the dock, Judge Burbidge said: âYou, John, drove the van onto that golf course, a public place, and drove into the unsuspecting Suzanne Cherry, such that she was killed from the terrible injuries your driving inflicted upon her.
âYou killed a person and devastated many.â
The judge said all three had decided they would dishonestly take money from elderly victims by targeting them for roof repairs.
He told the defendants: âThose you sought out were easy targets because they were vulnerable and trusting individuals, as the elderly often are, and want to see the good in people â unlike you.
âJohn and Johnny, you worked together using the name of Approved Roofs, but it is not clear what, if any, skills you had for that line of work. The evidence suggests none.â
For conspiracy to commit fraud, Johnny McDonald was sentenced to 32 monthsâ imprisonment and Delaney 28 months, with time served reduced from their sentence.
John McDonald was jailed for 13-and-a-half years, with a concurrent sentence of 48 months for conspiracy to commit fraud.
The judge told him he would have to serve two-thirds in prison before being released on licence.
McDonald said âthank youâ as he was sent down to the cells.
The court heard the police officer who was pursuing McDonaldâs van was considering leaving the police force because of the incident.
Mr Burrows said: âBecause of the impact of what happened on her mental health, she in some way feels responsible, she is not of course.â
Judge Burbidge praised the officers in the pursuit for their âcalm, collected, professional attitudeâ, adding: âThey should receive high commendation from their senior officers if they have not already done so.â
Mark Gatley KC, defending John McDonald, said the defendant is suffering nightmares about what he has done and is in poor physical health.
He said: âHe accepts full responsibility for his offending, for causing the untimely death of this much-loved woman, sister, mother and wife.
âNo-one can really begin to comprehend the pain he has caused but it weighs very heavily upon him.
âHe is struck by nightmares on a regular, if not daily, basis and he knows taking this life will haunt him for the rest of his days.
âHe knows none of that will bring much comfort to the family but that is the reality.
âJohn McDonald did everything he could to avoid the collision but it was not possible to do so.
âHe knows his actions were selfish, reckless and irresponsible, and cannot understand why he acted this way.â
Judge Burbidge said John McDonaldâs actions were âwicked in the extremeâ.
He said: âIt is clear that you did attempt to brake, but you had insufficient time to avoid her.
âClint Harrison saw you three run away from the vehicle. He says the person who stepped out of the driving seat actually stepped over Sue.
âHe says he saw, in a split second, the driver stutter and look back, but you didnât stop, John, you sought to save your own skin.â
He added: âEven if you did something to avoid the collision, it was too little, too late.â
Speaking to the media after sentence was handed down, Ms Cherryâs husband paid tribute to her as an âinspirationâ.
When asked what he thought about the sentence, Mr Harrison said: âYou really donât know want to know what I think about the sentence.
âI have got no thoughts about them at all. I wonât give them any head space.â
He added: âEverybody loved her. She was an inspiration. All the young ladies wanted to be like Suzanne Cherry because of what she achieved in her life.
âA company owner, advanced motorcyclist, cyclist, scuba diver, and anything else she could jump off or dive off.â
