Driver who killed man, 81, was inhaling nitrous oxide

A DRIVER who failed to stop when he killed an elderly cyclist after ignoring a red light at a pedestrian crossing was inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon before and immediately after the fatal collision, a judge has heard.

- DAVE HIGGENS

Graham Slinn, 81, had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Cain Byrne, 20, and thrown at least 15ft in the air, prosecutor Laura Marshall told Sheffield Crown Court.

Witnesses said Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and was travelling well over the 50mph limit, with one estimating his speed at 80mph. He sped off after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle as he left the scene.

A montage of footage shown in the court on Friday showed the defendant inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon a number of times as he was driving, both before and after the collision with Mr Slinn.

One of these was just moments after he hit the pensioner.