A teenager who died in a horrific crash was previously convicted for his role in a plot to steal a takeaway owner's Mercedes which resulted in the victim being run over by his own car and killed. Dean Barnes died on January 24 after being involved in a collision between a motorbike and a car in Stockport which left him with fatal injuries, the Manchester Evening News reports.
A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving on Gorton Road in Reddish but has now been released on bail, Greater Manchester police confirmed. The Birmingham teen, who's been described as a 'sweet boy', was convicted following an investigation into the death of Mohammed Islam in January 2021.
He was charged with conspiracy to steal and his co-defendant - who was 15 at the time of conviction and can't be identified for legal reasons - was jailed for four years and nine years after admitting manslaughter. Mr Islam was a 'an influential and inspiring father and husband' who was the owner of the Marple Spice restaurant.
He was run over and killed by his own car in an attempt to stop his vehicle from being stolen. The business owner had gone to the door of a house on Lyme Grove in Romiley to deliver a takeaway and the teenager convicted of manslaughter got into Mr Islam's 'cherished' Mercedes C-Class.
Manchester Crown Court heard in November 2021 that witnesses heard someone screaming 'no, no, no' after the boy got into the car. Mr Islam ran back to the vehicle and held onto it in a desperate attempt to stop him and a resident said they saw the boy speed away.
The restaurant owner held on for about 30 metres before he was thrown to the road where his head hit the ground and was then run over by his own car at about 9pm on January 8. The married father-of-three passed away two days later.
The convicted boy and Dean were part of a gang of thieves who had been searching for a car to steal. Dean was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in November 2021 to a 12-month detention and training order after he confessed his role in the crime.
Connor Read, who was 19 at the time of the conviction and was also part of the gang, admitted conspiracy to steal. He was handed 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Mr Islam's devastated family described him as a man who was 'loved and respected by everyone who knew him'. They said in a statement: "Our family cannot begin to describe what losing our father has done to us.
"The fact he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and was taken from us so early leaves us devastated beyond belief. Dad was everything you could ask for in a parent; a mentor, a role model - our best friend.
"We shared everything with him and there was nothing we couldn't tell him that he couldn’t fix. He was extremely loyal and nothing came between him and his family.
"Our Mum is overcome with grief; Dad was her life partner, her best friend and her rock. He dedicated his time to helping others and he was loved and respected by everyone who knew him.
"He would give his time and support to anyone who needed it without question, his loss is going to be felt by everybody."
Speaking of Mr Islam's family at the sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "The family have had a light extinguished in their life. The profound grief of the family will live with them for many years. I am quite sure that their father will never be forgotten."
Dean's loved ones have now paid tribute to the teenager who died on Tuesday as they described him as a 'ball of energy'. In the days following his death, flowers, balloons, candles and a registration plate reading 'SAVAGE DB' have all been left by mourners at the scene of the crash.
In a statement issued after the incident, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called to Gorton Road, Reddish, just before 7am today, Tuesday 24 January 2023, to reports of a collision between a car and a motorbike. As a result of the incident, a 16-year-old boy sustained serious injuries and sadly died a short time later.
"The boy’s family are being supported by specialist officers. A man in his 20’s has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. If anyone witnessed the incident or anyone has any dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage on, or near to, the junction of Gorton Road and Ainsdale Grove please contact 101 quoting log number 544 of 24 January 2023."
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