28-year-old man jailed following fatal hit and run in Rochdale that killed a ‘loving and generous’ wife and mother

A man who left a 60-year-old woman to die after a collision in Rochdale has been jailed following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU).

John Brazil (DOB: 17/05/1995) of Waithlands Road in Rochdale pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing the death of Anne Jones (60). Today (19 October 2023) he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court where he was sentenced to 9 years and 9 months in prison. 

During the trial, the court heard how on Sunday 19 December 2021, Anne Jones was walking along the footpath on Edenfield Road with her husband and friends. The group was heading to a restaurant where Anne had reserved a table for dinner.

At the same time Brazil was driving a Mercedes A180 at speeds of up to 60mph through the urban area. Brazil was disqualified from driving by the court following a dangerous driving conviction, he held only a provisional driver’s license and was not insured to drive this vehicle.

As Anne and her friend crossed Edenfield Road, Anne was struck by the Mercedes and sustained catastrophic injuries. Brazil fled the scene leaving Anne to die at the side of the road.

Brazil fled the scene and attempted to hide his car in a residential car park on Raven Street, around 700 metres away from the scene.

An investigation was immediately launched and the following day (20 December 2021), Brazil attended Bury Police Station. He was then arrested and later charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst driving uninsured/unlicensed and causing death whilst disqualified from driving.

Despite initially denying he was to blame, the ensuing investigation by SCIU compiled enough evidence that would eventually compel Brazil to return a guilty plea. 

Following the sentencing today, Mark Jones paid tribute to his wife Anne: "Twenty-two months ago the world lost the most loving and generous person imaginable. Every day since, and for the rest of our lives, Anne’s family and friends will mourn her passing. The world and the lives of everyone who knew her will never be as happy as they could have been with Anne in it.

"Nothing the court did today will ever ease the loss our family suffers every day. Nothing will bring Anne back and we as a family will have to live with that fact forever. It is therefore irrelevant what happens to the man that killed Anne because no sentence could even begin to correct the devastation he has caused."

Police Sergeant Louise Warhurst said: “It has taken more than two years to get to this point, but I hope the conclusion of this case will bring Anne’s family some form of closure.

“Anne was a loving wife and a devoted mother and that evening she should have been enjoying time spent with her husband and friends at Christmas.

“The pain and suffering Anne’s family have endured is unimaginable and our thoughts remain with them. I would like to thank them for their support, their strength and their bravery throughout this investigation and particularly during proceedings at court, which I know will have been some of the hardest days in their lives.

“The actions taken by Brazil meant that Anne was taken from her family. Brazil was aware that he had hit Anne, and rather than stop to help her, he chose to drive away and leave her to die in the road.

“I want to thank all of our officers who have been involved in this case and who have played an important role in putting Brazil safely behind bars."