John McDonald admitted conspiring to defraud victims between February and April last year, alongside his two passengers, Johnny McDonald, 23, and Brett Delaney, 35. The trio targeted elderly and vulnerable people, conning them out of tens of thousands of pounds for unnecessary and poorly executed roofing work.
All three had previously denied charges of manslaughter in connection with the death of Suzanne Cherry, who was killed when she was struck by a van driven by McDonald during a 12-minute police chase in Staffordshire. They are due to be sentenced at a later date.
Fatal Collision During Early Morning Golf Round
The court heard that Suzanne Cherry had been playing golf with her husband, Clinton Harrison, when the collision occurred. Prosecutor Michael Burrows KC told the court that the couple had begun their round early, greeting each other with a peck on the cheek.
Cherry’s second shot veered towards a stream, prompting her to walk ahead to search for the ball. Harrison said he was between 10 and 15 yards behind her when he suddenly saw the van driving towards her.
“I shouted her name but there was no time to react,” he told the court. “The van hit her and I heard her scream.”
Driver ‘Made No Attempt to Brake’
Harrison said the driver made no attempt to slow down before the collision. After striking Cherry, the occupants of the van climbed out and fled the scene on foot.
McDonald “actually stepped over” Cherry as he ran away, the court was told.
In a powerful victim impact statement, Harrison described watching his wife die as “helpless horror”, adding: “While enjoying what should have been the safest of one of Suzanne’s many activities, I watched as the life of my beautiful wife and our future together was snatched away in an instant.”
He said her death had left “an unfillable void” in the lives of her family.
Police Conduct Under Investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating police involvement in the events leading up to the fatal crash, including decisions made during the pursuit.
