Christopher Almond, a 51-year-old motorist with a history of dangerous driving, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of motorcyclist David Connah. The incident occurred on May 3, 2026, when Almond, who was more than twice the legal alcohol limit, undertook a stationary line of cars waiting to turn off the East Lancs Road in Salford and crashed his Audi A5 into Mr Connah's BMW motorbike.
Mr Connah, a 43-year-old father, suffered catastrophic injuries after being thrown 80 metres into bushes. He died later at Salford Royal Hospital. He had been planning to marry his long-time partner later this year.
Crash Details and Alcohol Levels
The court heard that Almond had been drinking the night before and was still over the limit when the crash happened at 1.59pm at the junction of Old Clough Lane near Worsley. He undertook a line of stationary traffic waiting to exit the East Lancs Road, running a red light before colliding with Mr Connah. After the crash, witnesses saw Almond throwing a can into the bushes and repeatedly exclaiming 'why me?' while on the phone, prosecutor Eleanor Gleeson told the court. An unopened can of beer was found in the footwell of his car. A breath test later revealed he had 68mg of alcohol per 100mls of breath, twice the legal limit.
Victim Impact Statements
Mr Connah's twin sister Natalie read a victim impact statement in court, describing the 'profound impact and pain' of the loss. She said she was still suffering sleepless nights and nightmares, adding: 'My heart is broken and a piece of my soul is missing I will never be able to get back or be able to replace.' A statement from his father said the death 'has broken me in a way I didn't think was possible' and 'shattered my heart into pieces'. His son, he said, could light up any room with 'his big smile'.
The victim's long-time partner Kelly George wept as she told the court the pair had been making plans to marry on December 12, 2026. She said: 'I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't face my wedding day without Dave on what should have been the happiest day of my life.' Mr Connah's stepdaughter and two children also paid moving tributes.
Almond's Criminal History
The court heard that Almond, of Marsh Road in Little Hulton, had 19 sets of previous convictions for 38 offences, including a five-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of his brother in 2002. He also served time in 2007 after being caught running a red light while doing 80mph attempting to escape police, and for crashing a motorbike while twice the limit in a separate incident. He was back in court last year for being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit.
Defence lawyer Ellen Shaw pointed to a sentencing report by probation which found he was 'very remorseful' and had become 'very emotional' when interviewed. She noted a 'gap' in his offending between 2007 and 2025 and said he had shown 'genuine victim empathy'.
Sentencing Remarks
Sentencing, Judge Kate Cornell told the victim's family: 'You must know, everyone here must know, nothing I can say today can ever bring David back. Nothing I do today can restore him to you and any sentence I pass will not be able to fully reflect the value of his lost life.' Turning to Almond, she said he had carried out an 'obviously illegal manoeuvre' and added: 'You admitted your part in this from the very beginning and you have expressed profound remorse. I accept that as genuine but that is of small comfort to the family and friends of the man you killed by your reckless and dangerous actions.'
Almond showed no reaction as he was jailed for nine years and told he would be eligible for early release six years into his sentence. He was also banned from driving for 14 years after his release from prison.
