Killer ends up in court after 'putting it all at risk' following devastating phone call

A convicted killer has been spared jail for dangerous driving after a judge accepted his claims he was only speeding at the time due to him being in a 'panic' to see his dying mother.

Christopher Howell, 39, who had no driving licence after a 27-year history of violent car crime, was arrested after he ploughed his Vauxhall Corsa van into a wall when he lost control of the vehicle as a patrol car was tailing him through inner city streets at 50mph.

The 'experienced criminal' carried out his first offence aged 12 and went to jail for manslaughter aged just 18 when he ran over and killed a security guard while stealing his car. But at Minshull Street Crown Court, a court took pity on him as at the time of the latest incident, he had been told his mother was 'about to take her last breath' and he was racing to get to see her before she died.

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She passed away whilst he was still trapped in the wreckage of the Corsa. The incident happened after police saw Howell driving towards them as they were patrolling the Miles Platting area.

Howell, of Greenwich Close, Miles Platting, faced up to five years in jail after he admitted dangerous driving but was freed with a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 150 hours of unpaid work after the judge Miss Recorder Kate Cornell accepted his offending arose out a ''genuine emergency.''

Howell was also banned from driving for 12 months after he admitted driving the Corsa without a licence or insurance. He insisted he did not realise police were following him but was later seen grinning as he left the court building.

Gavin Howie, prosecuting, said Howell was driving at around