Speeding driver who killed student in Birmingham crash convicted of driving offence after prison release

A speeding driver who was jailed for eight years for killing a university student and seriously injuring her friend has been convicted of driving whilst disqualified following his release from prison.

Sukvinder Mannan killed 21-year-old Rebecca McManus and left her friend Harriet Barnsley with life-changing injuries when his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vehicle smashed into a bus stop on Hagley Road West in Quinton, on May 31, 2014. 

The 42-year-old had been racing another driver and reaching speeds of up to 100mph before losing control and smashing into the bus stop.

Back in December 2015, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Mannan, from Romsley, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was jailed for eight years and banned from driving for 10 years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was released in 2019 after serving half his sentence.

Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group followed Mannan’s Mercedes on Rubery Lane, Rubery, on February 15 this year after police received information to suggest the vehicle was being driven by a disqualified driver.

The force pulled Mannan’s car over after seeing him go through a red light. He confirmed he was disqualified from driving until February 23 next year. He was arrested and taken into custody.

During interview Mannan confirmed he knew he was still disqualified and said he was using the vehicle for the purposes of travelling to work for a couple of months. He also admitted to not having any insurance for the vehicle.

At Birmingham Magistrates Court last week (February 16) Mannan was jailed for 12 weeks and banned from driving for a further 770 days after pleading guilty to the offences of driving whilst disqualified, having no insurance and failing to comply with a red traffic light.

What has West Midlands Police said?

PC Jason Berry, investigating officer based with Central Motorway Policing Group, said: “Mannan showed total disregard for the order from the court which banned him from driving for 10 years.

"He now faces more time behind bars and I hope he uses this time to reflect on his actions.”