Driver was so drunk after seven-hour bender he didn't realise he had run over and killed University of Manchester worker

A driver who spent seven hours in the pub before getting behind the wheel was so drunk he hadn't realised he had run someone over. Adam Cunliffe, a 21-year-old animal technician at the University of Manchester, was ploughed into by Paul Whitfield.

The 54-year-old motorist had embarked on an all-day drinking session before deciding to drive back home in St Helens. A court heard how Mr Cunliffe's body was dragged along the road for one kilometre by Whitfield's car - as horrified onlookers watched on.

Whitfield only realised what had happened when police knocked on his door, the Liverpool Echo reports. Liverpool Crown Court heard today (August 6) that Whitfield fail to slow down before hitting Mr Cunliffe.

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Opening the sentencing this morning, Michael Pickavance, prosecuting, told the court: "On January 12, 2022 at around 12.33am, a crash occurred between the defendant's blue Mazda and Adam Cunliffe on Washway Lane in St Helens. Earlier in the afternoon the defendant was caught on CCTV driving his car into the town centre.

"He parked before visiting a number of licensed premises before he ended up at Penny's bar on Duke Street. At 12.14am he returned to his car and drove off using a number of side roads. While he was getting into his car, Adam Cunliffe was at the Texaco garage. An eyewitness, Matthew Rivers, recalled Mr Cunliffe was struggling to get his words out. He was seen walking away down the road."

Mr Pickavance told the court that shortly after Mr Cunliffe left the garage, an eyewitness - a driver on the opposite carriageway - recalled seeing an object lying in the