Burglar given life sentence for murder of Chorlton man during robbery
Ryan Gibbons must serve minimum of 27 years for killing Mike Samwell
Last updated 1st Nov 2017
A burglar who twice ran over an ex- Royal Navy officer outside his Chorlton home as his wife watched in horror has been handed a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 27 years.
Ryan Gibbons, 29, reversed over Mike Samwell then drove over him a second time as the former serviceman tried to stop his £36,000 Audi S3 sports car being stolen.
Gibbons gave no reaction but there were gasps from his family in the public gallery and one said: “You're joking'', before his father shouted: “Love you, son'' as he was taken down to the cells at Manchester Crown Court.
Moments earlier Mr Samwell's wife Jessica had read a poignant victim impact statement to the court speaking of her “overwhelming grief'' as she watched her husband die.
The couple had been woken in the night as burglars broke into their £450,000 house on Cranbourne Road, Chorlton, south Manchester, snatching the keys to the car from the kitchen table.
Mr Samwell, a nuclear engineer after serving 12 years in the forces, rushed outside in his boxer shorts, shouting "Get out of the car!'', followed by his wife who saw him go under the wheels as Gibbons sped off.
She held his hand and told him she loved him as he lay dying from "catastrophic'' chest and heart injuries.
Passing sentence Mr Justice William Davis told Gibbons: "He was killed in front of her eyes and died as she was holding his hand on the driveway of his own home.
“You are a dangerous young man, you are a regular burglar and on this occasion, to get what you wanted, you quite ruthlessly killed a man."
Raymond Davies who was with Gibbons when the theft took place has been jailed for 8 years for manslaughter.