Overview

• Minshull Street Crown Court sentenced Donnelly to six years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving, with up to half served in custody and the remainder on licence.
• He was disqualified from driving for eight years and four months and must pass a mandatory retest before returning to the road.
• Court evidence included a video from Ryan Evans’ phone showing Donnelly with a nitrous oxide balloon about two minutes and 0.7 miles from the crash, plus balloons and canisters found in the car with Donnelly’s DNA on one balloon.
• Witnesses and CCTV described the Audi traveling at well over the 30mph limit, mounting the kerb with sparks visible, then spinning 90 degrees before striking a wall on Broadstone Road.
• Ryan Evans, 27, died at the scene as two other passengers survived, and emotional statements from his family and police condemned the ‘idiotic’ driving and its devastating impact.