Cain Byrne was filmed inhaling gas from balloon moments after fatal collision that threw victim 15ft in the air
A driver who was inhaling nitrous oxide before and after he hit and killed an 81-year-old cyclist has been detained for more than 11 years.
Graham Slinn had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Cain Byrne, 20, and thrown at least 15ft in the air, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, sped off with two passengers after the collision on 4 April, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle.
Drug Use Before and After Impact
A montage of footage shown in court revealed Byrne inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon multiple times while driving, both before and after the collision with Mr Slinn. One of these instances occurred just moments after he struck the pensioner.
Sentencing Byrne, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said inhaling nitrous oxide was “an exceptionally dangerous act while driving”.
The judge said Mr Slinn was “crossing the road entirely lawfully, in accordance with the green light for him” when he was struck.
No Attempt to Stop
Witnesses said Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the pedestrian crossing and was travelling well over the 50mph limit, with one estimating his speed at 80mph.
The court heard Byrne ignored a red light when he hit Mr Slinn, a former builder who helped care for adults with learning disabilities after retiring.
Victim’s Final Journey
Mr Slinn’s family revealed he had been weeks away from celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Jaqueline when his life was cut short.
In a statement read to the court, Mrs Slinn said she and her husband met through a love of cycling and he rode his bike several times a week. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield.
Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant,” Mrs Slinn told the court.
Family’s Devastating Loss
After the sentencing, Mr Slinn’s daughter Nicola and son Victor described their father as “kind to his core” and said his death was “100% avoidable”.
“On the afternoon of April 4, our dad set out on his bike — something he had loved since his youth, when he used to race,” they said in a statement released through Thompsons Solicitors.
“Cycling was a lifelong passion and a shared family activity. He always took safety incredibly seriously and had planned his route to stick to quiet lanes and cycle paths.
Despite taking every possible precaution to stay safe — dismounting at the end of the cycle path, waiting for the lights to change to green for pedestrians, and wheeling his bike across the pedestrian crossing — on the day he died, none of that mattered.
The family added: “To lose any loved one is a shock. But to lose someone so vibrant, so active, and to know their death was 100% avoidable is doubly cruel.
They described how Mr Slinn’s death had left “a profound silence at the heart of their home.
Previous Conviction and Sentencing
Byrne admitted causing the pensioner’s death by dangerous driving at a previous hearing.
On Monday, Byrne was sentenced to 11 years and six months‘ detention in a young offenders institution, with an extended licence period of five years. He was also banned from driving for 17 years and eight months.
Judge Richardson described Byrne as “utterly, utterly out of control” and noted his “truly astonishing and appalling driving record for someone aged 20 years”.
The court heard Byrne was driving with cloned licence plates at the time of the collision.
Defendant’s Background
In mitigation, the court was told Byrne had lost two brothers in traumatic circumstances: one in a car accident when he was 11, and another who was stabbed to death when he was 17.
Judge Richardson said he accepted the defendant had a “very deprived background in every conceivable way”.
However, the judge emphasised to Byrne: “For nearly 60 years Mr and Mrs Slinn lived thoroughly decent lives. I have heard quite a lot about Mr Slinn today and he seemed to have been a very good man.
“They were going to celebrate in the very near future their diamond wedding anniversary. That will not happen, and the reason that will not happen is because you drove a motor car when you had no driving licence and had a truly astonishing and appalling driving record for someone aged 20 years.”
Impact on Road Safety
The case highlights the dangers of drug-impaired driving and the devastating consequences of reckless behaviour on the roads. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, can cause dizziness, disorientation and impaired judgement – making it extremely dangerous to use while driving.
The substantial sentence reflects the gravity of the offence and serves as a stark warning about the consequences of dangerous driving, particularly when combined with drug use.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
