Latest news with #Slinn
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Moment driver, 20, inhales laughing gas behind wheel before ploughing into elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead
THIS is the moment a driver inhales laughing gas behind the wheel before ploughing into an elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead. Cain Byrne, 20, was seen holding an inflated balloon moments before he killed 81-year-old Graham Slinn earlier this year. Advertisement 7 A Derbyshire driver has been sentenced to prison after hitting and killing 81-year-old Graham Slinn Credit: Police video grab 7 CCTV captured Byrne inhaling a yellow nitrous oxide balloon before and after he struck Slinn Credit: PA 7 Byrne did not stop once he hit Slinn who died at the scene Credit: PA 7 Cain Byrne was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison and banned from driving for 17 years and eight months Credit: South Yorkshire Police Byrne jumped a red light at speed and hit Slinn as he crossed the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, on April 4. The cold-hearted driver from Chesterfield then sped off without stopping and was so intoxicated he didn't even realise he had fatally hit a pedestrian. Byrne left members of the public to help Slinn but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Footage shown in court showed Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon several times while driving, before and after the collision. Advertisement Read more News Slinn was a retired builder who was a keen singer in a local church and a valued member of the community. He was weeks away from celebrating his Diamond Wedding anniversary with his wife when he was killed. During Byrne's hearing, the courtroom heard he was a disqualified driver, driving without a license and insurance and using a false cloned number plate on the car. South Yorkshire Police were able to identify Byrne as having connections to the car with a false registration plate and he was arrested before being released on bail. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Senior Officer in the case Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said: "We spent hours trawling footage to piece together the car's movements, while others were working hard to find the car, which was later found burned out in the Derbyshire area." Shock moment driver ploughs into cyclist on quiet country road before speeding off claiming 'I thought it was a sheep!' A breakthrough came when officers tracked the car from the collision to an an address several miles away. CI Woodward added: "Our aim was to ensure he could never harm anyone in our communities again.' Byrne was re-arrested on April 12 in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody where he was questioned by detectives. Advertisement Byrne answered "no comment" throughout even when Slinn's family tribute was read aloud to him. However, he knew the evidence was stacked against him and pleaded guilty at a hearing in May. The court also heard how Byrne had convictions for 27 previous offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving license. Byrne was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and other offences. Advertisement CI Woodward said: 'Our thoughts remain with Graham's family and friends, and I hope today's sentencing brings them some further closure knowing Byrne will now face a lengthy time in prison. 'We know those involved in criminality are likely to take greater risks and Byrne's behaviour is a true reflection of this and why the work of our roads policing officers is greatly important." Sentencing Byrne, Judge Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was an "exceptionally dangerous act while driving", and told Byrne that Slinn had "died of grievous injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving". Richardson told Byrne: "You are a dangerous offender. Advertisement "The public must be protected from your deviant, dangerous, and ingrained criminal behaviour." In addition to Byrne's 16 and a half year prison sentence, he was further banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. 7 Slinn was weeks away from celebrating his Diamond Wedding anniversary with his wife Credit: PA 7 He was arrested in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody Credit: Police video grab Advertisement 7 Byrne repeatedly refused to answer questions when questioned by police Credit: Police video grab
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Moment driver, 20, inhales laughing gas behind wheel before ploughing into elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a driver inhales laughing gas behind the wheel before ploughing into an elderly cyclist and leaving him for dead. Cain Byrne, 20, was seen holding an inflated balloon moments before he killed 81-year-old Graham Slinn earlier this year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 A Derbyshire driver has been sentenced to prison after hitting and killing 81-year-old Graham Slinn Credit: Police video grab 7 CCTV captured Byrne inhaling a yellow nitrous oxide balloon before and after he struck Slinn Credit: PA 7 Byrne did not stop once he hit Slinn who died at the scene Credit: PA 7 Cain Byrne was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison and banned from driving for 17 years and eight months Credit: South Yorkshire Police Byrne jumped a red light at speed and hit Slinn as he crossed the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, on April 4. The cold-hearted driver from Chesterfield then sped off without stopping and was so intoxicated he didn't even realise he had fatally hit a pedestrian. Byrne left members of the public to help Slinn but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Footage shown in court showed Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon several times while driving, before and after the collision. Slinn was a retired builder who was a keen singer in a local church and a valued member of the community. He was weeks away from celebrating his Diamond Wedding anniversary with his wife when he was killed. During Byrne's hearing, the courtroom heard he was a disqualified driver, driving without a license and insurance and using a false cloned number plate on the car. South Yorkshire Police were able to identify Byrne as having connections to the car with a false registration plate and he was arrested before being released on bail. Senior Officer in the case Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said: "We spent hours trawling footage to piece together the car's movements, while others were working hard to find the car, which was later found burned out in the Derbyshire area." Shock moment driver ploughs into cyclist on quiet country road before speeding off claiming 'I thought it was a sheep!' A breakthrough came when officers tracked the car from the collision to an an address several miles away. CI Woodward added: "Our aim was to ensure he could never harm anyone in our communities again.' Byrne was re-arrested on April 12 in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody where he was questioned by detectives. Byrne answered "no comment" throughout even when Slinn's family tribute was read aloud to him. However, he knew the evidence was stacked against him and pleaded guilty at a hearing in May. The court also heard how Byrne had convictions for 27 previous offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving license. Byrne was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and other offences. CI Woodward said: 'Our thoughts remain with Graham's family and friends, and I hope today's sentencing brings them some further closure knowing Byrne will now face a lengthy time in prison. 'We know those involved in criminality are likely to take greater risks and Byrne's behaviour is a true reflection of this and why the work of our roads policing officers is greatly important." Sentencing Byrne, Judge Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was an "exceptionally dangerous act while driving", and told Byrne that Slinn had "died of grievous injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving". Richardson told Byrne: "You are a dangerous offender. "The public must be protected from your deviant, dangerous, and ingrained criminal behaviour." In addition to Byrne's 16 and a half year prison sentence, he was further banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. 7 Slinn was weeks away from celebrating his Diamond Wedding anniversary with his wife Credit: PA 7 He was arrested in Derbyshire and brought back to South Yorkshire custody Credit: Police video grab
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Driver who inhaled laughing gas then killed cyclist in crossing crash sentenced
Cain Byrne, 20, ignored a red light and was well over the 50mph limit when he hit Graham Slinn, 81, throwing him at least 15ft in the air, Sheffield Crown Court heard A driver who inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon before and after killing an elderly cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been detained for more than 11 years. Cain Byrne, 20, ignored a red light and was well over the 50mph limit when he hit Graham Slinn, 81, throwing him at least 15ft in the air. Sheffield Crown Court heard Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and could have been travelling at up to 80mph, according to a witness. On Monday he was sentenced to 11 years and six months' detention in a young offenders institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. Father-of-two Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at a previous hearing. An earlier hearing was told Mr Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Byrne. The defendant sped off with two passengers after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. A montage of footage shown in court showed him 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 former builder, who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after he retired and was weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline. Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was "an exceptionally dangerous act while driving". He said Mr Slinn was "crossing the road entirely lawfully, in accordance with the green light for him", and "died of injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving." The judge said Byrne "endured a dreadful upbringing" and "had known very few boundaries" in his life. He told the defendant: "You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour." Byrne was due to be sentenced last month but, after hearing about his "astonishing and appalling" driving record, Judge Richardson said he wanted a report prepared by probation officers. The court heard Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. In a statement read to the judge at an earlier hearing, Mrs Slinn said she and her husband met through a love of cycling and he rode his bike several times a week. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Mrs Slinn said: "Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant." After the sentencing, Mr Slinn's daughter Nicola, and son Victor, described their father as "kind to his core" and said his death was "100% avoidable". They said: "On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike — something he had loved since his youth, when he used to race. Cycling was a lifelong passion and a shared family activity. He always took safety incredibly seriously and had planned his route to stick to quiet lanes and cycle paths. "Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe - dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing - on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going, as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing. "But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many." In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said Mr Slinn's death had left a profound silence at the heart of their home. The family added: "To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel."
Powys County Times
21-07-2025
- Powys County Times
Driver who inhaled nitrous oxide before killing man, 81, detained for 11 years
A driver who inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon before and after killing an elderly cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been detained for more than 11 years. Cain Byrne, 20, ignored a red light and was well over the 50mph limit when he hit Graham Slinn, 81, throwing him at least 15ft in the air. Sheffield Crown Court heard Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and could have been travelling at up to 80mph, according to a witness. On Monday he was sentenced to 11 years and six months' detention in a young offender institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. Father-of-two Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at a previous hearing. An earlier hearing was told Mr Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Byrne. The defendant sped off with two passengers after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. A montage of footage shown in court showed him 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 former builder, who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after he retired and was weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline. Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was 'an exceptionally dangerous act while driving'. He said Mr Slinn was 'crossing the road entirely lawfully, in accordance with the green light for him', and 'died of injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving'. The judge said Byrne 'endured a dreadful upbringing' and 'had known very few boundaries' in his life. He told the defendant: 'You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour.' Byrne was due to be sentenced last month but, after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' driving record, Judge Richardson said he wanted a report prepared by probation officers. The court heard Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. In a statement read to the judge at an earlier hearing, Mrs Slinn said she and her husband met through a love of cycling and he rode his bike several times a week. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Mrs Slinn said: 'Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant.' After the sentencing, Mr Slinn's daughter Nicola and son Victor described their father as 'kind to his core' and said his death was '100% avoidable'. 'On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike — something he had loved since his youth, when he used to race. 'Cycling was a lifelong passion and a shared family activity. He always took safety incredibly seriously and had planned his route to stick to quiet lanes and cycle paths. 'Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe — dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing — on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing. 'But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many.' In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said Mr Slinn's death had left a profound silence at the heart of their home. The family added: 'To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel.'
Rhyl Journal
21-07-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Driver who inhaled nitrous oxide before killing man, 81, detained for 11 years
Cain Byrne, 20, ignored a red light and was well over the 50mph limit when he hit Graham Slinn, 81, throwing him at least 15ft in the air. Sheffield Crown Court heard Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and could have been travelling at up to 80mph, according to a witness. On Monday he was sentenced to 11 years and six months' detention in a young offenders institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was banned from driving for 17 years and eight months. Father-of-two Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at a previous hearing. An earlier hearing was told Mr Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Byrne. The defendant sped off with two passengers after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle. A montage of footage shown in court showed him 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 former builder, who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after he retired and was weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline. Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was 'an exceptionally dangerous act while driving'. He said Mr Slinn was 'crossing the road entirely lawfully, in accordance with the green light for him', and 'died of injuries inflicted by your truly appalling driving'. The judge said Byrne 'endured a dreadful upbringing' and 'had known very few boundaries' in his life. He told the defendant: 'You are a dangerous offender and the public must be protected from your evident dangerous and ingrained criminal behaviour.' Byrne was due to be sentenced last month but, after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' driving record, Judge Richardson said he wanted a report prepared by probation officers. The court heard Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. In a statement read to the judge at an earlier hearing, Mrs Slinn said she and her husband met through a love of cycling and he rode his bike several times a week. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Mrs Slinn said: 'Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant.' After the sentencing, Mr Slinn's daughter Nicola, and son Victor, described their father as 'kind to his core' and said his death was '100% avoidable'. 'On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike — something he had loved since his youth, when he used to race. 'Cycling was a lifelong passion and a shared family activity. He always took safety incredibly seriously and had planned his route to stick to quiet lanes and cycle paths. 'Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe — dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing — on the day he died, he was hit at speed by a car driven by someone who just kept going, as if our dad wasn't even there, as if he was nothing. 'But he was there. He was everything to us. He was our dad, our mum's husband of 60 years, a granddad to two teenage girls, and a friend to so many.' In a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said Mr Slinn's death had left a profound silence at the heart of their home. The family added: 'To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel.'
