Disqualified driver who left woman to die in Rochdale hit-and-run jailed
Family handoutA disqualified driver who left a woman to die after he hit her as she crossed the road has been jailed.
John Brazil was driving a Mercedes A180 when he struck Anne Jones on Edenfield Road, Rochdale on 19 December 2021.
The 28-year-old, of Waithlands Road in the town, fled the scene and tried to hide the car about half a mile away.
He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for nine years and nine months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Mrs Jones was walking to a restaurant with her husband and friends when Brazil, who had been driving at speeds of up to 60mph in the residential area, hit her as she crossed Edenfield Road.
Brazil was not insured to drive the Mercedes and was disqualified from driving at the time, following a dangerous driving conviction.
'Unimaginable'
GMP said Mrs Jones suffered catastrophic injuries, but Brazil did not stop, instead leaving her "to die at the side of the road".
Brazil then tried to hide the car in a residential car park on a street a short distance away.
The force said Brazil attended a police station in Bury the following day, but denied he was to blame for Mrs Jones's death.
However, a GMP representative said the "ensuing investigation" compiled such a body of evidence that Brazil was compelled "to return a guilty plea".
GMPFollowing the sentencing, Mrs Jones's husband Mark said Brazil's actions had meant "the world lost the most loving and generous person imaginable".
"The world and the lives of everyone who knew her will never be as happy as they could have been with Anne in it," he said.
"It is irrelevant what happens to the man that killed Anne because no sentence could even begin to correct the devastation he has caused."
Sgt Louise Warhurst said Brazil had caused Mrs Jones's family and friends "unimaginable" suffering.
She said he had been "aware that he had hit Anne", but had chosen to "to drive away and leave her to die in the road".
"I hope the conclusion of this case will bring Anne's family some form of closure," she added.
