‘Cowardly’ killer who murdered a grandfather on a fishing trip by running him over with his own car when he refused to give him a lift is jailed for 26 years after refusing to leave his cell to be sentenced
- David Ford, 62, was run over by his own car being driven Jermaine Richards, 31
- Richards asked Mr Ford and his son for lift but turned violent when they refused
- He was jailed for life and will serve minimum of 26 years before parole eligibility
A man who killed a ‘loving’ grandfather after he was refused a lift by running him over with his own car has been jailed for 26 years.
David Ford, 62, was run over by ‘cowardly’ Jermaine Richards while he prepared for a fishing trip with his son Ryan on September 3, 2022.
Richards, 31, approached the pair as they loaded Mr Ford’s Kia Sportage with angling gear at 5:45am, demanding a lift.
But when he was refused, he turned violent and punched Ryan before fleeing the scene. Mr Ford later saw Richards a second time and confronted him over attacking his son.
It was then that Richards climbed into a member of the public’s car, before getting out and beating them to the ground. He then stole Mr Ford’s car and drove off, only to return and run him over.
David Ford, 62, (pictured) was run over by ‘cowardly’ Jermaine Richards while he prepared for a fishing trip with his son Ryan on September 3, 2022
Mr Ford later died in hospital, while Ryan was left with a serious brain injury after being assaulted.
A jury heard Mr Ford suffered multiple ‘catastrophic injuries’ and found Richards guilty of murder last month.
Sentencing was adjourned because Richards refused to leave his cell. He refused to do so again today when he was jailed for life.
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Sheffield Crown Court: ‘I regard the refusal of the defendant to attend court to be an act of cowardice. His arrogance is also demonstrated by this conduct.
‘It is plain the defendant is replete with habitual violence. It is deeply ingrained. He is, in my judgment, an exceptionally volatile and dangerous man.
‘I have my doubts whether it will ever be safe to release him.’
He added that he was ‘not prepared to endanger the lives of prison officers to secure his attendance’ by exercising the powers available to him.
‘I have no doubt whatsoever that the defendant took aim at David Ford’, he said. ‘The CCTV plainly reveals this.
A jury heard Mr Ford suffered multiple ‘catastrophic injuries’ and found Jermaine Richards, 31, (pictured) guilty of murder last month
‘I have not a shred of doubt the defendant was using the car as a weapon – indeed he was using David Ford’s own car, of which the defendant had unlawful possession, to cause his really serious injuries.
‘He suffered these injuries and died some while later despite the best efforts of the paramedics and medical staff.
‘I shall not overlook the fact that Ryan Ford witnessed the cruel murder of his father when he was deliberately run-over by the defendant.’
Speaking after sentencing, David’s wife of 42 years revealed that his shoes are still on the doormat of their home in Sheffield, South Yorks.
In a statement released by police, she said: ‘Dave’s shoes are still on my doormat at home and his coat is hung up by the front door. I cannot move them because if I did so I would have to accept that he is gone. I cannot do this.
‘If he was ill and died I could accept this, but the fact he went out fishing one day and never came home has caused such a shock to me that I cannot accept it.
‘The hard thing is that Dave did not die because of natural causes, he died because of the decisions made by Jermaine Richards.
‘I met Dave when I was 16 years old and we were married for 42 years. We used to do everything together – Dave was me and I was Dave. It was hard to see where one of us started and the other one ended.
Richards refused to leave his cell but was sentenced to life behind bars at Sheffield Crown Court in his absence
‘We have always been a team who have supported each other through life’s journey. I no longer have this support.
‘Dave loved me and his family very much and we all loved him back. I will go to bed tonight and as I do every night I shall sleep on my side of our bed. David’s side will remain un-slept in.’
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Knowles, of South Yorkshire Police, said: ‘We know that seeing Richards sentenced will never undo the pain and heartache the Ford family will still be feeling.
‘But we hope seeing him go to prison will help them start to move forward from this horrendous incident.’
Richards, who was also found not guilty of two counts of racially aggravated public order against two police officers last month during his trial, was jailed for life.
He will serve a minimum of 26 years before he is eligible for parole.
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