Father and son jailed for 48 years for killing man in revengeful hit and run

Martin and Shaun Breeze mowed down and killed Brian Darby as well as seriously injuring other pedestrians in Ingleby Barwick.

The pair were convicted by a jury on Thursday 25 July 2024 following a trial and returned to Teesside Crown Court on Monday 13 January 2025 to be sentenced.

On sentencing Martin, aged 57, to life imprisonment for the murder of Brian, Judge Justice Jacobs told him he will serve a minimum of 32 years behind bars before being considered for parole. Martin was also found guilty of attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.

Shaun, aged 29, was sentenced to 16 years after being found guilty of manslaughter and three counts of grievous bodily harm.

On the evening of Friday 9 February 2024 Brian, a 17-year-old boy, two men, aged 25 and 27, and a 50-year-old woman were walking home after enjoying a night out at a café-bar when Shaun barged through them while riding a bike.

When they remonstrated with him, Shaun gave the impression he was carrying a knife. The three men then gave chase and he collided with another pedestrian and fell off his bike.

He then proceeded to run away on foot while making a telephone call to his father.

Martin who at the time was at home on Owls Grove in Ingleby Barwick, then set off in his van and was captured on CCTV driving at speed to pick up his son.

The pair then drove along Myton Way and upon spotting the group of friends, left the carriageway, mounting a grass verge, ploughing across a cycle path before deliberately mowing them down on the footpath.

The impact caused the windscreen to shatter and one of the victims to be thrown in the air.

Brian was carried on the front of the bonnet before falling on to the carriageway some distance from the impact. The 60-year-old sadly passed away at the roadside despite the best efforts of passers-by, police and paramedics.

The woman sustained life-threatening injuries while the teenager, and another man also suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment.

Meanwhile the Breeze’s had returned the van to the road and fled the scene. They abandoned the heavily damaged van, arrived back at their home, and contacted the police to report the vehicle as stolen.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Matt Hollingsworth, from Cleveland Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “It’s almost beyond comprehension that a chance encounter between a group of friends and Shaun Breeze would be the catalyst for such a senseless and callous attack.

“Martin and Shaun Breeze killed a well-known and well-liked man as well as injuring or trying to injure others in the group purely as an act of revenge.

“As we heard from the impact statements read out in court, this attack has had such a devastating impact on the victims, their family, and their friends.

“I know today’s sentencing will never bring Brian back or lessen the physical and psychological pain suffered by all those impacted by this attack; however I hope it begins to provide some form of closure to know the men responsible for this will be in prison for a very long time.

“My thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with everything that has happened.”