Fine over fatal car park prank

A Wirral man who drove his car round with his friend on the bonnet has been banned from driving after a court heard the man fell off suffering fatal injuries.

Michael Walker, 33, died six days after the accident last August.

He had been on the bonnet of Paul Derbyshire's car as it was driven round a Birkenhead pub car park.

A Liverpool Crown Court jury cleared him of dangerous driving, but found him guilty of careless driving.

'Freak accident'

The court heard the friends had earlier been playing golf at Arrowe Park before going for a drink at the Cherry Orchard pub.

They left the pub but Mr Walker then sat on the car bonnet, as Derbyshire drove him along.

The court heard that Mr Walker either then fell off or tried to get off suffering serious head injuries.

Derbyshire, of Park Close, Birkenhead, was fined £1,000.

He told the court his friend had been injured in a freak accident.