I hope you hear sound of crash for rest of your life

Sister of victim's message to hit-and-run driver

- BY PAUL BRITTON

THE sister of a much loved dad killed in a hit-and-run crash bravely laid bare the family's enduring grief in a powerful court statement as the speeding driver was jailed.

Louie Baguley, 37, admitted causing the death of Andrew Morris, 46, by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

He 'abandoned' the car he was driving then told the owner to report it as stolen in a failed bid to pass the blame, the court heard. Baguley, who handed himself in to police two days later, was jailed for seven years.

Mr Morris, from Stockport, died in hospital more than 20 days later, in March, 2023.

His sister, Joanne Morris, took to the stand at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court and, facing Baguley, told through tears of her 'amazing' brother and his fight for life.

She described medics at Salford Royal Hospital as 'angels' and described Mr Morris as 'a big ball of fun and laughter'. At the time of his death, he was volunteering for and helping to set up an organisation based in Manchester city centre to help the homeless, providing food and shelter to those in need.

Ms Morris told of her 'role model' brother's love of magic tricks, fancy dress and karaoke, his 'infectious' laugh and his bad telling of 'dad jokes.

And she told Baguley: "You might think that you have been taken away from your family, but they can come and visit you, see your face and hear your voice. Memories are what we all rely on now. Luckily we are inundated with those, given the amazing person he was.