Fatal Crash Jailing: Two men have been sentenced after a 139mph crash in Manchester killed a motorist during a reckless late-night drive
Uways Hussain, a 20-year-old law student from Manchester, and Usmon Mahmood, 23, were jailed by Manchester Crown Court on Friday after a devastating high-speed crash that killed 50-year-old motorist Sylvester Abayomi.
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The court heard that Hussain was driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI at speeds of up to 139mph in 30mph zones during the early hours of March 9 when the vehicle ran a red light and collided with another car at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway in Manchester.
Hussain admitted causing death by dangerous driving and related offences. Judge Nicholas Dean KC sentenced him to 11 years and eight months in prison.
Mahmood, who owned the vehicle and was travelling as a passenger, received a 12-year and nine-month sentence after being convicted of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
Prosecutors said mobile phone footage captured the pair speeding through Manchester while inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, from balloons. At several points, Hussain was seen driving with only one hand on the steering wheel.
The fatal crash occurred at about 4.30am as Mr Abayomi was travelling to work.
The court heard that an automated emergency feature on Hussain’s Apple Watch recorded conversations immediately after the collision. The recordings allegedly captured discussions about leaving the scene in an Uber and reporting the vehicle as stolen.
In sentencing the pair, Judge Dean described the driving as “terrifying” and condemned the extreme speeds reached on roads with strict residential speed limits.
“You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit,” the judge said.
A significant aspect of the case was Mahmood’s conviction despite not being behind the wheel. According to Greater Manchester Police, it is believed to be one of the first cases in the country in which a passenger has been convicted for aiding and abetting death by dangerous driving.
The court also heard that Hussain had a previous conviction for drug-driving, while Mahmood had been preparing to begin an apprenticeship with Network Rail.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Denise Doyle, partner of the deceased, described Mr Abayomi as a hardworking man who was simply travelling to his job when his life was cut short.
“Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man. He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did,” Ms Doyle told the court.
Addressing the defendants directly, Ms Doyle said they had abandoned the victim after the collision and showed no compassion.
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The powerful case has renewed concerns about dangerous driving, excessive speeding and the misuse of nitrous oxide among motorists, with authorities warning that reckless behaviour on the roads continues to carry devastating consequences.
