A MAN was ‘holding an HGV to ransom’ in a dispute over unpaid wages before allowing his unlicensed friend to drive on a rampage through Barnsley which resulted in the death of a pedestrian, a jury was told this week.
David Mellor, of Bank End Road, Worsbrough Dale, gave evidence at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday which documented the run-up to a collision which killed 58-year-old Jacqueline Wileman on Common Road, Brierley, at about 1.30pm on September 14 of last year.
The driver, 23-year-old Karn Hill, of East View, Cudworth, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving while Mellor, 48, 53-year-old Alan Mawhinney, of Calder Crescent, Kendray, and Wayne Carroll, 29, of Chestnut Street, Grimethorpe, all deny the same charge.
However, Mellor and Mawhinney admitted a charge of aggravated vehicle taking having previously denied the offence, something which Carroll continues to deny.
Mellor, who was employed by Barnsley-based City Freight Services, said he was owed two-and-a-half weeks’ wages and told his boss he would hand over the truck when he was given the money.
He said he had spent the next few days at Mawhinney’s house, drinking and taking drugs, and woke up on the morning of the crash feeling ‘groggy’ and in ‘no fit state to drive’.
“I had been asking for days for the pay but it never went into my account,” said Mellor.
“I took the truck on September 11. I thought Karn Hill had a licence as I had seen him drive bigger trucks before.
“Why did I let him drive? My judgement was clouded and I made a mistake letting him do so.”
Mellor, who admits a charge of aggravated vehicle taking, said he had no issues with the manner of Hill’s driving - despite witnesses saying the HGV had been involved in a series of near misses with motorists before the crash - and had filled up with diesel at several fuel stations without paying.
“We were having a joke and the mood was happy,” Mellor said. “That changed on Common Road in Brierley as I told Karn to pull up, something I had done before on the day.
“He didn’t give me the keys back and just carried on driving - I couldn’t do anything about it as it was a moving truck.
“I regret it and yes, I could have done more.”
Prosecutor Jason Pitter said the group had received information that the police were looking for the vehicle and were warned to ‘get out of Grimethorpe’ by a friend having picked up Carroll from his home address.
The HGV then travelled out of the village before turning onto Common Road in the direction of Brierley.
Having had its registration reported by Mellor’s boss, a police officer travelling on Common Road - PC Paul Skeoch - came across the vehicle and turned around to follow it, but Hill sped up and drove at ‘top speed’ before failing to negotiate the bend and careering into Mrs Wileman’s path, hitting three cars and damaging a house.
Mellor added: “I remember seeing the police car put its blue lights on and I was screaming at him to stop at this point.
“He was driving too fast, on the truck’s limiter, but he continued to drive with his foot down.
“All three of us were pleading with him to stop.
“I know Common Road and I know it’s a bad left-hand bend, so I knew he was driving too fast for it.
“It ended up in the side of a house but at that point I wasn’t aware someone had been hit.”
Mawhinney, who was trapped in the cabin, was arrested at the scene, as were Carroll and Hill following their attempt to flee.
Mellor did get away, according to Mr Pitter, who told a jury he was arrested at Burntwood Court, a hotel half a mile away, but did not see Mrs Wileman’s body.
“I ran so the house didn’t collapse onto the cabin,” Mellor added.
“My head was all over the place as I had seen the damage that had been caused. I knew cars had been hit but I did not see the lady.”
The trial, which is due to end next week, continues.
