Driver who killed football coach at car meet jailed

A driver who killed a 20-year-old football coach after reaching speeds of almost 100mph (161kmh) at an unauthorised car meet has been jailed for eight years.

Mason Hodgson, 23, of Morley in Leeds, was driving a black Audi S3 when he hit ex-England schoolboy footballer Sam Harding as he stepped into the road in Warrington, Cheshire on 10 April 2022.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that analysis of CCTV from the area at about 21:30 GMT showed he was driving at speeds of up to 97mph shortly beforehand.

Hodgson, of Glen Road, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was also disqualified from driving for 10 years and four months.

Mr Harding, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, died in hospital.

The 20-year-old's mother Liz told the court: "Unauthorised car meets have to stop.

"The individuals responsible for organising them need to be identified along with all the drivers who take part.

"One reckless act has left our family with a life sentence of pain that grows deeper every day."

Sentencing Hodgson, Judge Neil Flewitt told him: "You have an entrenched and cavalier attitude to driving at speed.

"You made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and you showed complete disregard for the risk of danger to others."

The court heard Mr Harding, who had completed a dissertation for his degree in football management days before his death and was awarded a 2:1 posthumously, had been excited to attend his first car meet.

Mr Harding was a talented footballer and had been a coach and mentor to hundreds of children in his local area, the court heard.

Paul Becker, prosecuting, said hundreds of people attended the car meet, which was advertised on Snapchat and initially held in St Helens, Merseyside.

A new location at Kingsland Grange in Woolston, Warrington, was advertised on social media and cars moved to the area.

The court heard Hodgson drove "like an idiot" on the motorway to get to the second location and once there drove circuits of the area.

Hodgson was driving down the "strip" when Mr Harding stepped into the road.

He sounded his horn and swerved but was unable to avoid him, the court heard.

Martyn Walsh, defending Hodgson, said: "Through me, he wishes to apologise and say sorry for what happened on that night."

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