Crash death murder-accused reported van stolen

Brian Darby was killed in the crash in February

A father and son accused of killing a man and injuring three people in a deliberate hit and run crash reported their van stolen hours later, a court has heard.

Brian Darby, 60, was killed instantly when he and a group of friends were struck by a van on a footpath in Ingleby Barwick in February.

Martin Breeze, 57, and his son Shaun, 29, deny 11 offences including murder and attempted murder.

Jurors at Teesside Crown Court heard a call the pair made to police in which they said they wanted to "clear" Martin Breeze's name of involvement in the crash.

The court has heard Mr Darby and his friends were walking home from a night out at the 3 Rivers bar at about 23:30 GMT on 9 February when Shaun Breeze rode a bike into them.

The group remonstrated with Mr Breeze who fled and called his father, jurors were told.

Minutes later, Martin Breeze picked his son up and then drove into Mr Darby and his friends on Myton Way in "revenge", prosecutors said.

'Totally smashed'

Three people were injured while Mr Darby was killed instantly after being pushed about 490ft (150m) on the front of the Citroen Berlingo van.

A witness said he saw the van minutes later driving along with its headlights off, front bonnet damaged and windscreen "totally smashed".

The man then came across Mr Darby lying in the road and, the court heard.

The damaged van was abandoned and Martin Breeze and his son went back to the younger man's home on Owls Grove.

Shortly after 08:00 on 10 February, Shaun Breeze called Cleveland Police to report the van as stolen.

Martin Breeze's van was seen driving with a smashed windscreen and its bonnet crumpled upwards

He said officers had already "raided" his grandmother's home and "broken into" his father's house on Irthing Close after they identified the van as his.

Shaun Breeze said: "They think it was my dad driving. We just need to clear his name basically."

He said they had only just realised the van had been stolen, adding they had been told by friends and family it had been used in a crash in which someone had "been killed".

Martin Breeze could be heard speaking in the background during the call and remarking it was not insured.

Shaun Breeze told the operator they had therefore "lost a lot of money".

The court heard the pair were both arrested on suspicion of murder at 08:45 that day.

Martin Breeze now accepts he was responsible crash but claimed it was a "tragic accident" and he did not intend to hit anyone, the court has heard.

The trial continues.