Car thief jailed for garage killing

Stuart Ferguson always denied intending to kill Mr Raybould

A car thief who ran over and killed an elderly businessman as he tried to stop a car being stolen from his garage forecourt has been jailed for 10 years.

Stuart Ferguson reversed into Henry Raybould and sped away as the 75-year-old lay dying from massive internal injuries outside the premises in Gornal Wood, near Dudley, West Midlands on 10 July 2003.

He was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday after admitting manslaughter at a previous hearing.

Judge Frank Chapman said he accepted Ferguson, 25, had not intended to harm Mr Raybould and had shown remorse for his death after turning himself in to police.

'Persistent habit'

But the judge told Ferguson, of Talbot Place, Wolverhampton, that he had brought "great sadness" to Mr Raybould's family.

He added: "It is a case which has understandably caused outrage to people locally because your persistent habit of stealing a car from a forecourt has brought the untimely death of a well-liked, well-respected and hard-working decent man.

We as a family do not feel any hatred towards the perpetrator Paul Raybould

"I am satisfied that you were aware that there was a real risk of a collision with someone trying to stop you, but you chose to run that risk.

"In my view, you chose to put the success of your crime and escape before the wellbeing and safety of those close by."

After Ferguson had been led away to begin his sentence, Judge Chapman turned to Mr Raybould's family and told them: "I sympathise with the pain and outrage you feel that your father's life was taken so pointlessly.

"It is plain from all we have heard he was a thoroughly decent, devout man who did not bear anger or hatred.

Henry Raybould was a committed Christian

"You will have to see if you can follow his example."

Mr Raybould's son, Paul, who was badly injured as he also tried to stop Ferguson driving away, read a statement outside the court.

He said: "Our original statement asking for forgiveness of Stuart Ferguson and his colleague still stands.

"We as a family do not feel any hatred towards the perpetrator.

"As we said before, we believe that there should be a punishment for all crimes and in this case it has been dealt with by the laws of this land."

A 16-year-old youth from Tipton, West Midlands, who was a passenger in the stolen car at the time of the Mr Raybould's death, was given a six-month detention and training order in December.