Man guilty of causing hit-and-run death

Aden Wright, 27, was unanimously found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after Ryan Griffiths was killed in a hit-and-run

A man has been found guilty over a fatal hit-and-run which happened, police said, as a speeding car drove away from a drugs deal gone wrong.

Ryan Griffiths was 29 when he was struck on Burleigh Road in Wolverhampton on the evening of 21 August 2024.

He was hit by a VW Golf, driven by Aden Wright, 27, which fled the scene. Mr Griffiths died two days later.

At Birmingham Crown Court, a jury unanimously convicted Wright of causing death by dangerous driving. He is duet to be sentenced there on Friday 5 December.

West Midlands Police said on recovering the car which was forensically examined, a manhunt was launched for Wright who was arrested within a week.

The force said it found that Wright was linked to purchasing drugs, which is why he was in the area that night.

He tried to use other people within the vehicle to buy the drugs on his behalf, using counterfeit money, Detectives discovered. But when the money was found to be fake by another party at the scene, Wright drove away at speed.

According to the force, he crashed into Mr Griffiths and then stopped to collect a passenger. Despite seeing his victim lying motionless on the road, he left the scene.

Ryan Griffiths died in hospital after being hit by a car on 21 August 2024

Police said Wright then carried out "a series of calculated actions to try and get away with his crime".

He enlisted the help of others to take the vehicle off the road the following day, changed the ownership into someone else's name, and then tried to get family members to help frame that person as the driver.

Wright insisted that it was the other person who was behind the wheel.

He was originally charged with murder, but following deliberations by the Crown Prosecution Service, the charge was reduced to death by dangerous driving and he was convicted on 31 October.

Det Sgt Jeanette Roberts said: "Securing justice for Ryan and his family has been at the forefront of all of our minds throughout this investigation.

"Wright's callous actions that night, including failing to stop at the scene or admit to what he did, have put them through unimaginable pain.

"A thorough investigation meant that he was brought to justice, and it is right that he is now facing prison."

Mr Griffiths' family have been supported by specialist officers and paid tribute to him following his death, saying: "Ryan was a loving and devoted son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew and cousin.

"He had a heart of gold and a lot of loving friends. Everyone is devastated by his sad loss and he will be sadly missed."