'Unlawful' verdict on chase death

An inquest jury has returned a verdict of unlawful killing on a Newcastle printer who died when his car was hit by a stolen 4x4 vehicle.

William Forrest, 52, was killed when he crashed head-on into the Mitsubishi L200 being driven by Barry Taylor, 23, on the A1(M) near Newton Aycliffe.

Taylor, who was being pursued by five police cars when the crash happened, was jailed for 10 years last year.

He gave evidence at the inquest, which concluded on Monday.

At the time of the crash, Taylor, of Chester-le-Street was drunk and had taken cannabis, the jury heard.

He told the inquest he had been driving at up to speeds of 110mph because he was out on licence from prison and was also a disqualified driver.

He said: "I just wanted to get back home, I was on licence, I wanted to be near my own jail."

The earlier criminal case heard how the stolen Mitsubishi L200 hit the motorway central reservation and was flung into the air, landing on the bonnet of Mr Forrest's Peugeot 305.

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