“Their behaviour was reckless and dangerous"
Two men are now in jail for hitting Bolton’s ex-mayoress with a car and killing her.
Assad Hussain, aged 23, and Wasim Iqbal, aged 22, received a total of 12 years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.
The men pled guilty to causing the death of 57-year-old Gay Wharton.
Their sentences came on Monday, June 7, 2021, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
The incident occurred in Bolton in November 2020, where CCTV cameras caught Hussain and Iqbal driving at a high speed along Chorley New Road.
The men were in separate vehicles, appearing to be racing each other.
Ex-mayoress Gay Wharton was using a pedestrian crossing after the traffic lights went red and traffic had stopped.
Iqbal stopped at the lights, but CCTV footage showed Hussain overtaking stationary vehicles and driving through the red light, hitting Wharton as a result.
Both the men then drove away, leaving members of the public attempting to help Gay Wharton before she died at the scene from her injuries.
Assad Hussain evaded police for four days before handing himself in.
Police also arrested Wasim Iqbal on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, after officers could not locate his phone or the clothes he wore on the day of the incident.
Speaking of the crime, Sergeant Andrew Page of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:
“This was an extremely tragic incident which could have been avoided if it wasn’t for the defendants’ blatant disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians.
“Their behaviour was reckless and dangerous and led to Gay very sadly losing her life.
“They showed no remorse in the immediate aftermath of the collision and both fled the scene.”
“Our thoughts are with Gay’s loved ones today.”
Assad Hussain and Wasim Iqbal both pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Hussain received a prison sentence of seven years and four months for causing death by dangerous driving.
The court sentenced Iqbal to four years and eight months in prison for the same charge.
He also pled guilty to driving with no insurance.
However, social media users believe that their punishments are too lenient.
In response to a tweet from Greater Manchester Police about the case, one user said:
“Not a long enough sentence.”
Another wrote: “12 years is that it.”
A third said: “Will only serve a 2/3 of their sentence. Take a life should mean life simple.”
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