Killer driver was careless

Victim...Christopher Dale

A teenager from Rochdale who killed a 15-year-old boy has been convicted of causing death by careless driving.

Danny Pattinson, 18, of Trows Lane was cleared of the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving. He will be sentenced on November 15 and was remanded on bail for reports.

Pattinson hit Christopher Dale, of Bramble Avenue, Moorside, on June 13 last year 2009 with his mum’s Mini Cooper.

Minutes earlier he has picked up two girls Suzanne Bennett and Megan Shaw.

The 16-year-olds told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court that they had been screaming, first in excitement, but then in fear as Pattinson sped through the High Street with the radio blasting and one hand on the steering wheel.

Another witness had described having to jump to avoid the speeding car. But Pattinson denied their accounts.

He said: “There was no screaming at all. The girls weren’t screaming.

“I set off at a normal speed. I drove down the High Street at less than 30mph.

“Most of the time I had both hands on the steering wheel.

“The radio was on but it wasn’t extremely loud. We could still hear each other.”

Seconds later Pattinson hit Chris who was crossing Lees Road with friends.

The talented Blue Coat School pupil, who had been expected to achieve top GCSE grades this year, died of his injuries.