Uber driver jailed for killing passenger he ordered out of car

Christopher Hanton, 40, died in hospital four days after the incident

An Uber driver who knocked over and killed his passenger has been jailed for more than seven years.

Kunathilinghan Mohanthas, 48, left Christopher Hanton for dead in Glasgow city centre, the High Court in Kilmarnock heard.

He had ordered Mr Hanton, 40, out of his taxi moments after picking him up in George Street on 5 August 2023.

As Mohanthas turned the vehicle to drive away, he struck Mr Hanton who fell and hit his head on the ground.

The father-of-one from Chryston, Lanarkshire, died four days later at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The mortgage advisor had been on a night out with friends before ordering a car on the Uber app at about 22:30.

He got into the back of Mohanthas' Mercedes Vito, but the driver then told him to get out

Mr Hanton got out and slapped the back of the cab as Mohanthas made a three point turn.

The driver then made a "sudden turn" to the left, striking Mr Hanton who fell backwards and hit his head.

Mohanthas, who had prior convictions for dishonesty and public disorder, returned to the scene 15 minutes later and told police he had hit Mr Hanton after he punched his car.

He said he had not done "anything to anyone deliberately", the court heard.

Mohanthas admitted killing Mr Hanton and has been held in custody since two days after the offence.

Passing sentence, Lord Clark described the incident as "tragic".

He said he accepted Mohanthas had not meant to kill Mr Hanton and took responsibility for the "devastating impact" on his family.

The judge added: "I have also read the victim impact statement which explains in deeply moving terms the dreadful consequences of your actions."

Mohanthas was jailed for seven years and six months and banned from driving for 13 years and nine months.

As Mohanthas was led away, relatives of Mr Hanton shouted "I hope you rot in jail".

The family earlier paid tribute to Mr Hanton, speaking of a "devoted and dedicated husband" to his wife Lynne and a "loving father" to his son Zak.