 A convicted killer with a long history of violent car crime has been spared jail after getting into a police chase while driving to see his dying mother. Career criminal Christopher Howell, 39, was arrested after smashing his Vauxhall Corsa into a wall while being tailed by police cars at speeds of over 50mph. Howell, who has no drivers licence, was previously jailed aged 18 when he ran over and killed a security guard while stealing his car. But he urged a judge at Manchester Crown Court to take pity on him for his latest incident, telling the court he had been told his mother was 'about to take her last breath' and was racing to see her before she died. Howell is a career criminal who has been jailed twice for manslaughter anfd robbery (Picture: Cavendish Press) She passed away whilst he was still trapped in the wreckage of the Corsa. Howell, of Manchester's Miles Platting District, faced up to five years in jail after he admitted dangerous driving, but instead received a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 150 hours of unpaid work after judge Miss Recorder Kate Cornell accepted his offending arose out of a 'genuine emergency.' He insisted he did not realise police were following him but was later seen grinning as he left the court building. Sentencing Miss Recorder Cornell told Howell: 'I am aware you have previous convictions for driving offences, but this was of a wholly different character. 'The dangerous period of driving was momentary and motivated purely by your desire to see your dying mother. 'It was a genuine emergency, and it was a great irony that your dangerous driving meant you did not see your mother before she died. You clearly ignored the rules of the road and chose to drive without a licence or insurance. 'Anyone could have been hurt during this incident, as I'm sure you know from your time spent in hospital af){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A convicted killer with a long history of violent car crime has been spared jail after getting into a police chase while driving to see his dying mother.
Career criminal Christopher Howell, 39, was arrested after smashing his Vauxhall Corsa into a wall while being tailed by police cars at speeds of over 50mph.
Howell, who has no drivers licence, was previously jailed aged 18 when he ran over and killed a security guard while stealing his car.
But he urged a judge at Manchester Crown Court to take pity on him for his latest incident, telling the court he had been told his mother was ‘about to take her last breath’ and was racing to see her before she died.