Revealed, the appalling driving record of callous murderer who mowed down respected headteacher and dragged him to his death

The appalling driving record of a callous killer who dragged an ‘inspirational’ headteacher to his death beneath the wheels of a two-ton SUV has today been revealed.Simon Richardson, 35, faces a life sentence after being convicted of murdering Michael Mullins, 56, who was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School where he had been a 'brilliant' and 'transformative' leader for 17 years.Instead of stopping after ploughing into him at a junction, the ‘coward’ pressed on 'regardless' for more than a mile at up to 60mph, inflicting fatal injuries on the married father-of-two, who had survived the initial impact.Today a court heard that at the time of the tragedy on April 20, Richardson had five previous convictions for ignoring the rules of the road dating back to 2011.They included failing to stop when he crashed a car into a wall and fled the scene, driving while disqualified, and two drink-driving offences.It can also now be revealed that Richardson was on bail when he mowed down Mr Mullins in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, despite having just been released from prison where he was held on remand on charges of assaulting an emergency worker.A month earlier he received a community order for that offence, but he was still awaiting trial on separate allegations of affray, causing actual bodily harm and possessing cocaine.At the time he was sofa-surfing and ‘effectively homeless’, prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. Simon Richardson, 35, was convicted of headteacher Michael Mullins' murder The dented Volvo, pictured moments after the crash, shows Simon Richardson behind the wheel, with the driver's window rolled down Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from work at Stretford Grammar School when he was dragged underneath Simon Richardson's car for more than one mileRichardson has a total of 28 previous offences and 11 court appearances dating back to when he was just 18.As well as driving offences, convictions include public disorder, battery, stalking and threatening to cause criminal damage, the court heard.He faces a mandatory life sentence, with the judge, Mrs Justice Brunner, due to set the minimum term he must face later today.Following the initial impact, instead of stopping, Richardson 'veered sharply and deliberately from side to side' to try to dislodge Mr Mullins from beneath the wheels of the Volvo XC90, his trial heard.The teacher was finally thrown clear when the car mounted a grass verge on a country lane before being driven over again by Richardson.Leaving Mr Mullins dying at the roadside, he stopped to fill his dented car up with fuel and collect weight-loss medication for his cousin, who was in the passenger seat.Witnesses who were alerted by a 'trail of blood' in the road went to help Mr Mullins, who was still breathing. But he was pronounced dead at the scene from catastrophic injuries at 6.50pm, about 40 minutes after he was knocked off his bike.Richardson switched the Volvo for a van, but was arrested the next day following a brief pursuit after his cousin contacted police.On Friday a jury convicted Richardson of murder in one of the first cases of its kind. Mr Mullins, pictured with his children, was treated by paramedics but was declared dead at the roadside 40 minutes after the collision, jurors were told A hooded Richardson caught on CCTV filling up with fuel shortly after leaving Mr Mullins dying by the roadsidePaying tribute afterwards, married father-of-two Mr Mullins' family described him as 'an anchor', 'the perfect dad' and 'our everything' by his family. Shortly after 6pm on April 20, Mr Mullins – who is said to have been fit – was riding the 19-mile journey to his home near Northwich, Cheshire, when he was knocked off his bike by Richardson.The stricken headteacher was found on a grass verge 1.3 miles away in Lymm, Cheshire, where Andrew Besant-Roberts was first to the scene, alerted by a 'trail of blood... weaving' along the road for 200 yards.'Then I saw a cyclist on a grass verge who appeared to be in a position similar to the recovery position,' he told the court.'He was laid on his side unconscious, but I could see he was still breathing.'Mr Besant-Roberts called 999, but despite carrying out chest compressions and then being helped by a paramedic who arrived shortly after, Mr Mullins was declared dead at the scene.Analysis of his Apple watch showed that a heartbeat was still being recorded when he was flung out from under the car.Doctors confirmed that he survived the initial impact but suffered fatal injuries caused when Richardson continued to drive with him beneath the car.Richardson's cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, 27, who was in the front passenger seat, told the court that the incident left her 'shocked' and 'scared'.She said that in the moments prior to the collision she had told him to 'slow down', but he smirked and said: 'I'm a professional driver.' Richardson caught on camera overtaking a car shortly before he hit Mr Mullins An image from dashcam footage shown to jurors of a police pursuit of the defendant driving a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, the following dayAs the Volvo approached a junction she desperately shouted 'bike' three times because she noticed Richardson 'wasn't stopping', she added.After hitting Mr Mullins she said Richardson drove off in an 'erratic' manner as 'moaning' sounds could be heard from beneath the vehicle.At one point Richardson stopped and attempted to pull Mr Mullins free before getting back behind the wheel and speeding off again, she said, 'veering' from side to side.Richardson did not give evidence in his own defence.But cross-examining Ms Debotte, Jaime Hamilton KC, defending, said Richardson denied getting out of the vehicle or trying to pull Mr Mullins clear.However, she denied changing her account to avoid getting 'in trouble' herself.She put her failure to call 999 that evening down to 'shock' and having 'never been' in a situation like that.Ms Debotte 'broke down' at the nursery where she worked the next day and told staff what had happened before going to police, jurors heard.After the verdict, Mr Mullins' family told how his death has left them 'torn apart' and gave a series of glowing tributes.His wife said: 'My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart. My memories of being with Michael through the rough and the smooth are now permanently tainted with sadness.'Michael is irreplaceable to family, friends and the school. There is no one quite like him with his myriad of unique qualities that combined to make him mean so much to so many people.'I am, we are, completely bereft and adrift without our anchor, Michael Mullins.' Newly-released picture of Michael Mullins, issued by his family after trial verdict Mr Mullins' heartbroken widow said her life has been 'torn apart' while his children told how he would support and encourage them Mr Mullins's grown-up children described him as a kindly father who would encourage them with sport and music, and support them into adulthood. His son said: 'He was the type of Dad that would show up to everything. He would drive me to every rugby game on a Sunday and was always there to cheer me on from the sidelines with the same sentiment continuing into my adult life where he would constantly remind of how proud he was of me.'Our last exchange of words together before he dropped me at the station was him reminding me of how proud he was of me.'Michael's daughter said: 'My dad, Michael, was so many things, He loved music and was learning to play the guitar. He loved to pick us up from the airport after a holiday to be the first to hear about it and growing up would always offer to pick me and my friends up from concerts to make sure we got home.'I made a promise in those first days that I would live the rest of my life for my dad and give myself the life he had started to see me grow into and wanted for me.'I am here telling you all that my Dad was and always will be our everything.'Speaking outside court following the guilty verdict, Detective Sergeant Tricia Solomon, of Greater Manchester Police, paid tribute to Mr Mullins as a 'man who was kind and caring' – and 'beloved in his community, his school, by his family and friends'.DS Solomon added he was 'a man who should have come home safe and sound to his family but who will be remembered for ever for the legacy he's left behind'.She also praised his family for their 'courage', along with the people who tried to find him at the roadside after the collision.Her words were greeted with a round of applause by his family and supporters who'd gathered outside.After the tragedy Stretford Grammar School said it was mourning a 'uniquely talented headteacher and a man of unshakeable principles' who would be remembered for his 'quietly brilliant' leadership and 'transformative' vision.In a glowing tribute it described Mr Mullins as 'a compassionate leader, and a source of unwavering support for students and staff alike'.Richardson, formerly of Sale, Greater Manchester, had denied murder and an alternative count of manslaughter.