Driver avoids jail over horror smash

Victim, 21, left with 'catastrophic' injuries after he was hit by speeding BMW

- By GRETA SIMPSON

A 22-year-old who caused a man to be 'hurled 40 metres' along the road when he hit him with his car has been handed a suspended sentence.

Then 21-year-old Jack Mills was crossing Manchester Street in Oldham in October 2023 when he was hit by Adam Shakeshaft, who was driving a BMW 1 Series with his girlfriend in the passenger seat.

Mills sustained such serious injuries that his left leg had to be amputated at the knee, Manchester Crown Court heard. Adam Shakeshaft, then 20, was charged with causing serious injury by careless driving. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a pretrial hearing and was sentenced on Friday.

Prosecuting barrister Emmanuel Coniah told the court Jack Mills had been walking to buy food before catching the tram to a new job on the morning of October 21, 2023.

He had to cross Manchester Street to do so, a four-lane road with a 30mph speed limit.

"Mr Mills began to cross the street close to the Shell service station," Mr Coniah said. "He was focused on the road and not distracted by his phone."

"He reached the middle of the carriageway when he noticed Adam Shakeshaft's car approaching at speed in the inside lane. He realised he would not make it across in time and tried to move back to the outside lane."