Hit-and-run van killer appeals conviction

Shaun Breeze is appealing his manslaughter conviction

A man found guilty, alongside his father, of killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash has appealed against his conviction.

Brian Darby, 60, was killed and three other people seriously injured when they were hit by a van in Ingleby Barwick in February.

The driver Martin Breeze, 57, was found guilty of murder and his son Shaun Breeze, 29, convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Both were due to be sentenced on Friday but it was delayed after Shaun Breeze launched an appeal.

Brian Darby was killed in February

The court had heard Mr Darby was part of a group of people who were leaving the 3 Rivers bar in Ingleby Barwick on 9 February when they had an altercation with Shaun Breeze.

He rode his bike into the group having gone out to buy more cocaine, after he and his father had spent the day at their home on Owls Grove consuming drugs.

Shaun Breeze contacted his father to say he had been chased, prompting Martin Breeze to get into his uninsured van and speed to the scene.

Seconds after picking his son up, he ploughed into the group of people as they walked along a footpath, with Mr Darby being killed instantly as he was pushed 490ft (150m) down the road.

Martin Breeze was found guilty of murder

The father and son then abandoned their badly damaged van and returned home to take more drugs, before calling police to report the vehicle stolen.

Prosecutors said Martin Breeze deliberately drove into the group in revenge for the earlier altercation and Shaun Breeze assisted or encouraged him.

Breeze was found guilty of murder and four counts of attempted murder, while Shaun Breeze was found guilty of manslaughter and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Both were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Jurors reached their verdicts after about four hours of deliberation following a two-week trial.

The Court of Appeal confirmed it received an application from Shaun Breeze seeking leave to appeal his conviction.

A new date for sentencing is yet to be set.