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A drunk driver who doubled over the legal limit when he killed his mother after hitting her with his father’s car has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Pierce Whelan, 35, previously pleaded guilty to the murder of Nawelle Tina Ormerod, 37, after hitting her with a Peugeot 406 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
He then dragged Mrs Ormerod under his car for approximately 900m before leaving her body on Marlborough Road and fleeing the area, Warwick Crown Court has heard.
Mrs. Ormerod suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. He also seriously injured a man whose identity has not been identified.
On Friday, Whelan, of Gillet Close, Nuneaton, was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was one of the worst hit-and-run cases it had ever seen.
Whelan, who pleaded guilty last December 13, was also disqualified from driving for life by Judge Lockhart.
The court has ordered that a third count of causing death by dangerous driving may be on file.
Full details of the horrific incident on June 19 last year emerged during yesterday’s sentencing hearing.
Whelan was driving along Jubilee Way when he ran into two pedestrians as they were crossing the Roanne Ringway near the junction with Coton Road.
Whelan, who was traveling alone, fled the scene in a vehicle that had its windshield smashed, forcing him to look out the driver’s door window to see where he was going.
One of the pedestrians hit was a 26-year-old man from Nuneaton. He was thrown over a vehicle and suffered life-changing injuries.
He was initially assisted by two members of the public who witnessed the collision and called an ambulance.
The second pedestrian, Mrs Ormerod, from Hinckley, Leicestershire, was dragged under Whelan’s car and was found seriously injured in nearby Marlborough Road, with no signs of life.
Police officers attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but Mrs Ormerod was pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, officers discovered Whelan’s abandoned and damaged car on Clement Street.
After dropping off the vehicle, Whelan visited his then-girlfriend before heading to Nuneaton Police Station to turn himself in.
Whelan was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision and driving while intoxicated.
Tests later confirmed he had 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath; the legal limit is 35 micrograms.
A saliva test also showed the presence of cannabis, the court heard. Later that day, Whelan was arrested again on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and manslaughter.
In concluding the court hearing, Judge Lockhart noted two women in the audience who assisted at the scene and recommended them for the High Sheriff’s Award.
Judge Lockhart also referred to the high quality police investigation conducted by PSI Karen Powell and recommended her for the Chief of Police’s award.
Following the court’s verdict, Inspector Michael Huntley of the Warwickshire Police Serious Collisions Investigation Unit spoke about how Whelan’s actions changed lives forever.
Inspector Huntley said: “The horrific consequences of Pierce Whelan’s actions on June 19, 2021 have been devastating to the family and everyone who knew Nawelle Ormerod.
“Nawelle leaves behind her husband and son who are grieving the loss and my thoughts remain with them.
“Life changed forever that day, including the life of the man who was also hit by Whelan’s car.
“He underwent surgery to insert a metal plate and nine screws into a compound fracture in his right shoulder. These injuries were life-changing, both physically and mentally.
“Pierce Whelan chose to drink alcohol, putting him at risk of double DUI and smoking marijuana before getting into his car to drive that night.
“Colleagues who were with him before the collision hailed a taxi and repeatedly advised him not to drive.
However, Mr Whelan ignored this advice and drove off in his vehicle before the taxi arrived.
“The tragic outcome of Mr. Whelan’s actions should serve as a clear reminder to all motorists of the legal and moral responsibility we all have when driving.
“Mr Whelan acted completely irresponsibly by driving the vehicle while unable to drive and then not stopping and remaining on the scene of the collision, which ultimately led to disastrous consequences.
“I would like to thank members of the public, police officers and colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service who responded the night of the collision in what was clearly a very traumatic and complex scene.
“I would also like to thank the entire investigative team who conducted a thorough and thorough investigation, as well as the CPS who took the case to court.”
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