Simon Richardson Jailed For Murdering Headteacher Michael Mullins Simon Richardson receives a minimum 25-year sentence for dragging headteacher Michael Mullins to death in Greater Manchester, revealing a history of reckless driving and prior convictions. Simon Richardson, a 35-year-old driver with a extensive record of traffic violations, has been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison for the murder of Michael Mullins, a respected headteacher. The fatal incident occurred on April 20 in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, where Richardson struck Mullins while he was cycling home from his workplace at Stretford Grammar School. Instead of stopping to assist the injured cyclist, Richardson drove away at speeds reaching up to 60mph, dragging the 56-year-old educator beneath his two-ton SUV for more than a mile. Richardson's Prior Driving Convictions and HistoryCourt documents reveal that Simon Richardson possessed a driving history spanning 15 years prior to the murder charge. At the time of the tragedy, he already had five previous driving convictions dating back to 2011, which included failing to stop after crashing into a wall and fleeing the scene, driving while disqualified, and two separate offenses of drink driving. These records demonstrate a long-standing pattern of ignoring road safety laws and evading legal responsibility for accidents.Beyond his driving infractions, Richardson had a broader criminal history involving 28 previous offenses and 11 court appearances since he was 18 years old. His record includes charges for public disorder, battery, stalking, and threatening to cause criminal damage. This extensive background highlights a consistent disregard for legal boundaries and the safety of others over nearly two decades.Stunning Details of Richardson's Legal StatusOn the day he killed Michael Mullins, Simon Richardson was living on the streets and effectively homeless, sofa-surfing without a permanent residence. He was also on bail at the time of the murder, having recently been released from prison where he had been held on remand for charges of assaulting an emergency worker. This release had occurred just one month earlier, following a community order for that specific offense.Richardson was awaiting trial on separate, serious allegations at the time of the fatal crash. These pending charges included affray, causing actual bodily harm, and possessing cocaine. The prosecution emphasized that Richardson committed the murder while facing multiple legal proceedings, yet he chose to continue driving at high speed after hitting the cyclist, resulting in fatal injuries to Mullins who had survived the initial impact.Justice Brunner's Sentencing and Lifetime BanAt Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Mrs Justice Brunner imposed a life sentence on Simon Richardson with a minimum term of 25 years, minus time already spent on remand. The judge condemned Richardson for placing escaping the scene of an accident above human life, describing his actions as showing an astounding degree of disregard for the value of another person's existence. She noted that for every moment he continued to drive, he was knowingly using his heavy vehicle to cause serious injury to a man who was trapped and helpless.In addition to the prison term, the judge imposed a rare lifetime driving ban on Richardson. This permanent prohibition underscores the severity of the offense and the danger Richardson posed to public safety. The court highlighted that he deliberately used his car as a weapon over a prolonged period, transforming a routine commute for Mullins into a violent and fatal ordeal.Families Tributes and School Community ImpactMichael Mullins' family delivered powerful tributes to the court, characterizing him as a perfect gentleman and a brilliant leader. His wife Sarah, who had been married to him for 27 years, described how his death had brutally torn apart her past, present, and future. She stated that Mullins was irreplaceable to his family, friends, and the school, and expressed deep anguish over the violent and painful nature of his death, which she viewed as a wound that would not heal.Mullins' children, Harry and Maisie, also addressed the court, slamming Richardson as a true coward who was not worthy of a place in society. Harry Mullins noted the irony that a strong, kind, and caring man was killed by such abhorrent actions, adding that his father always wanted to make the world a better place. Maisie Mullins spoke of her anger at seeing her father abandoned and dragged for miles, emphasizing the trauma inflicted on the family.The impact of the loss extends deeply into the educational community at Stretford Grammar School, where Mullins served as headteacher for 17 years. Acting headteacher Elizabeth Baxter testified that Mullins had transformed the school from an institution in special measures into a hugely successful and oversubscribed establishment. His sudden death in dreadful circumstances rocked the school's foundations, leaving a void and a gulf at every level of the organization.