Sheldon Flanighan: Ambulance worker 'deliberately run over'

Sheldon Flanighan, 55, worked for the North East Ambulance Service

An off-duty ambulance worker was mown down by a van after he stepped in to prevent a disturbance outside a pub, a murder trial jury has heard.

Sheldon Flanighan and a friend had been at the Bay Horse Inn, Cramlington, on 1 April when they were deliberately run over by Toby Kelly, it is claimed.

The 55-year-old, who worked for the North East Ambulance Service died at the scene, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Mr Kelly, 38, of Blyth, denies murder and attempted murder.

Wayne Common, also 55, who was with Mr Flanighan, suffered life-threatening injuries but survived.

'Dragged by legs'

Prosecutors said Mr Kelly struck Mr Flanighan by reversing over him, before going on to strike him again by driving forwards on to his body.

The court was played CCTV footage showing Mr Flanighan and Mr Common arriving at the pub earlier in the evening with another friend, Kevin Patterson.

The men were just metres away from Mr Kelly, his partner Shannon Wooden, and their friend David Fairclough, who had been drinking inside the bar for several hours.

The court heard that the three had been told by staff they would no longer be served alcohol which led to Ms Wooden smashing a number of glasses on the floor in frustration.

Footage then showed Mr Kelly engaging in an altercation with Ms Wooden inside the bar with the pair grappling with each other on the floor.

Jurors heard that Mr Kelly was later seen dragging her out of the pub by her legs towards the car park.

This led to Mr Flanighan and Mr Common also leaving the pub and entering the car park, the court was told.

Shortly afterwards, CCTV captured the van being driven erratically moments before it struck the two men.

Prosecutor Christopher Tehrani KC told the jury: "The driver of the van at the time these two men were run down is the man you see in the dock. His name is Toby Kelly.

"You will hear evidence this Ford Transit van, driven by the defendant, when reversing, knocked Sheldon Flanighan down and then was placed in forward gear and drove over him again.

"The prosecution submit that the defendant knew exactly where Sheldon Flanighan was in relation to the van when he started his reverse manoeuvre."

Mr Flanighan and his friend were run over outside the Bay Horse pub

Mr Tehrani said Mr Flanighan's death and Mr Commons' injuries "were not down to a terrible, unavoidable accident".

"The prosecution submits that the defendant knew exactly what he had done because he did not remain at the scene," he added.

The court was told that one witness, whose girlfriend worked at the pub, heard the two victims approach the defendant to say he should not hit a woman.

"It may have been the case although we will never know for certain, that Wayne Common and Sheldon Flanighan went outside to either protest or prevent Mr Kelly driving any vehicle away, given the amount of alcohol he consumed," Mr Tehrani added.

"Or alternatively, you may think that Mr Flanighan and Mr Common went outside in the car park because they were concerned for Shannon Wooden's safety."

The vehicle was pursued by a police car and later discovered nearby.

The court heard that Ms Wooden and Mr Fairclough are facing no charges and the jury was told to focus on Mr Kelly, of Wansbeck Avenue, alone.

The trial continues.