Football agent guilty of dangerous driving after fatal M6 crash

A football agent on has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Peter Morrison has been on trial at Carlisle Crown Court this week after the crash in February last year.

The 37 year old had veered onto the M6 hard shoulder near Tebay, killing Penrith highway worker Adam Gibb and leaving his colleague Paul Holroyd paralysed.

He has previously admitted careless driving, but today a jury found him guilty of dangerous driving on both counts.

The court heard Morrison was travelling at an average 81mph for 23 miles before the fatal crash. He was also texting several people, including footballers, over whatsapp as recently as 96 seconds before the crash.

On passing the verdict, the judge said:

"This is a very challenging time in the trial process. The verdict is going to play a considerable part, everybody should be congratulated with the dignity everybody has played in the trial and continue to behave in that way.

"I cannot hope to understand the emotions you're all going through"

When the verdict was announced, Morrison, of Worsley, Manchester, who was wearing a dark grey suit and a poppy, bowed his head and looked towards the floor.

During the trial he was asked by his lawyer how he felt about the incident, Morrison told jurors from the witness box:

"I don't think words can describe how bad that has made me feel.

"However, anything I feel is nothing in terms of what the people to my right (in the public gallery) would feel.

"It has changed all our lives for the worse for ever."

Asked if he had words for Mr Holroyd - who was left paralysed from the chest down and was present in court - Morrison added:

"No different. Exactly the same. Truly, truly sorry for everything it has caused for all the people involved."

Morrison has been bailed before sentencing on 23rd November.