Drunk driver jailed over death of dad of two

Whitfield pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison

A driver who failed to stop after he struck and killed a father-of-two has been jailed for more than seven years.

Paul Whitfield was "highly intoxicated through drink" when his Mazda collided with 21-year-old Adam Cunliffe in St Helens on 12th January 2022, Merseyside Police said.

Mr Cunliffe, who was trapped under the car as it carried on for 1 km (0.6 mile), was pronounced dead at the scene, the court heard.

Whitfield, 54, was arrested a short time later and maintained he was unaware of the collision until police came to his door.

Adam Cunliffe was pronounced dead at the scene

In his victim impact statement, Mr Cunliffe's brother Adam Conway said it "felt like a piece of me died that day".

He said he no longer enjoyed being around his family and friends and that he took strong antidepressants because everyday felt "like a mission to get out of bed".

"Adam was funny, loving and creative and an all round amazing person," he said.

"There is a hole in our family that will never be filled."

Mr Conway said their mother died unexpectedly a short time after Mr Cunliffe's death at the age 43.

His father Alan Cunliffe said he would "gladly trade his life to have him back on earth".

"They say there is no other love stronger than the love you have for your own child and it is true," he said.

"I lived and breathed for his very existence."

Mr Cunliffe's partner, Amy Clayton, said she suffered from depression and anxiety and had "panic attacks getting in cars” following his death.

"I will never be able to forgive this and feel so angry," she said.

"I shouldn’t have to explain to my son his dad’s death at the age of 21.

"21 years will never be enough it isn’t fair."

Whitfield pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. Police said he will also be disqualified from driving for five years after he is released.

The Judge Andrew Menary, KC, Recorder of Liverpool, in his sentencing said it was “conservatively estimated" that Whitfield was two and a half times over the drink driving limit.

He said the area is well illuminated and that other motorists alerted Whitfield frantically to what was later described as an “unfolding horror story.”

"Such was your compromised ability that you did not notice Adam lying in the road.”

"The fact that you didn’t realise, the fact that you drove on oblivious, indicates how affected by drink you were."