A man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail following a road traffic collision in Bredbury which left an elderly man dead. 

Caleb Mansfield-Marr (22), from Blackburn, was sentenced on Monday 2 December, after pleading guilty to:

• causing death by dangerous driving;
• causing death by disqualified driving;
• causing death by driving when uninsured;
• causing serious injury by dangerous driving;
• and causing serious injury by disqualified driving.

On 5 August 2023, Mansfield-Marr was driving his car along Ashton Road, travelling in excess of 60 miles per hour, in what was a 30mph area. 

He subsequently collided with a car at the junction of Lingard Lane, which contained a 74-year-old woman in the driver's seat, and 76-year-old Jack Howe in the passenger's seat. The pair were husband and wife. 

The collision left the woman with serious and potentially life-changing injuries. Despite best efforts of emergency services, the elderly man later passed away as a result of his injuries. 

A police investigation into the incident found that Mansfield-Marr had exceeded speed limits on numerous occasions in the past. 

A police investigation found footage from separate incidents showing Mansfield-Marr speeding - these were videos he kept on his phone (Image via GMP)

Officers also found videos on Mansfield-Marr's phone showing him driving dangerously. In one of these, he had his feet crossed and resting out of the window while using cruise control.

Paying tribute to Jack, his wife said: "The morning of 25 September 2023 changed my life forever, I became a widow.

"My lovely kind and caring husband of fifty years had passed away. No more companionship, conversations, laughs or celebrations to share together.

"I am healing from my injuries, but nothing can heal my loss of losing Jack, my husband and my best friend."



Another video on Mansfield-Marr's phone showed him driving with his feet out of the window (Image via GMP)

Police Sergeant Louise Warhurst from Greater Manchester Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said; "Firstly, our thoughts and condolences remain with Jack's family after he passed away in such tragic and terrible circumstances.

"I would like to thank all the members of the public that tried to assist Jack and gave lifesaving first aid at the scene of the collision and to everyone who came forward to assist us with our investigation.

"Mansfield-Marr is a young man with a truly appalling driving history, and he bears full responsibility for this tragedy.

"I would like to remind those who think they can ignore the speed limits and drive dangerously to think twice. Your actions can devastate innocent members of the public in a split second, Jack's family are continuing to mourn the loss of a much-loved family member and no one deserves to lose a loved one this way.

"Dangerous drivers will not be tolerated across Greater Manchester. We will deal with you robustly to keep people safe from illegal and irresponsible drivers in our communities."