Car thief gets 14 years over police crash that killed mum

A ‘SELFISH’ thug stole an Audi before leading police on a high-speed pursuit which resulted in the death of a much-loved mum

- AMY WALKER

Marcel Doyle, 47, stole the car from a driveway as a man was waiting to take his wife to work.

He then was caught on CCTV switching the registration plates before overtaking an unmarked police car at speed. As the car followed him down a number of streets in Royton, Oldham, they reached speeds of 80mph, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

As he was making his way down Oldham Road, Heather Smedley was at the front of a line of traffic waiting to turn right onto Otmoor Way. Doyle then turned into the junction, narrowly avoiding Mrs Smedley.

The police car, which was one second behind Doyle, then collided with the side of Mrs Smedley’s car. She sustained multiple injuries and sadly died at the scene.

Doyle, having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, was yesterday jailed for 14 years and 11 months.

The police officer involved in the collision is under investigation, police watchdog Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed earlier this year.