A so-called 'cowboy roofer' led police on a terrifying high-speed chase through Birmingham before crashing into and killing a mother-of-three as she played golf, stepping over her body as he ran from the scene, a court has heard.
A 12-minute pursuit of carnage
John McDonald, 52, was behind the wheel of a grey Nissan NV300 van on April 11 last year when his dangerous driving turned fatal. The court was told the chase lasted 12 minutes, during which McDonald reached speeds of 70mph, drove on the wrong side of the road, mounted pavements, went through red lights, and rammed a pursuing police car at least eight times.
The pursuit began in the Greenholm Road area of Birmingham around 10am after an officer grew suspicious of the van. It ended when McDonald careered onto the grounds of Aston Wood Golf Club in Shenstone, Staffordshire.
The moment of impact
Suzanne Cherry, aged 62, was playing golf with her husband, Clint Harrison. She was searching for her ball near a stream when McDonald's van hurtled over an embankment towards her. Mr Harrison shouted to warn her, but prosecutor Michael Burrows KC said she “could not possibly have got out the way.”
The collision caused multiple catastrophic injuries, including rib fractures, torn carotid arteries, and severe damage to her liver and spleen. Mr Harrison shouted “You b*******s, you’ve killed my wife” as McDonald, his 23-year-old son Johnny, and a 35-year-old passenger, Brett Delaney, fled. The court heard McDonald stepped over Ms Cherry's body as he escaped.
Suzanne Cherry was rushed to hospital but died four days later on April 15 – the day before her 63rd birthday. Medical evidence indicated she would have been left severely disabled had she survived, and the heartbreaking decision was made to withdraw treatment.
A history of targeting the vulnerable
The court heard that the three defendants, who operated under the guise of Approved Roofs Ltd, had all admitted conspiracy to commit fraud. Their scam, which ran from February 17 to April 12 last year, involved convincing elderly homeowners they needed unnecessary and shoddy roofing repairs.
They had deceived four victims – aged 61, 79, 83, and 88 – charging “exorbitant amounts for bad work.” One woman paid nearly £10,000, later needing a further £7,000 to fix the damage they caused. Mr Burrows said the fraud was sophisticated and the victims were targeted “on the basis of vulnerability – their age.”
On the morning of the fatal crash, the trio had been following an elderly customer to a cash machine when police first spotted them.
Devastating impact on a family
In a powerful victim impact statement delivered at Worcester Crown Court, Clint Harrison looked directly at John McDonald and said his wife’s life was “violently and senselessly ended.” He described being a man whose foundation was destroyed, adding: “They valued their temporary freedom more than her right to live. The damage is irreversible.”
Ms Cherry's brother, Adrian Cherry, remembered his sister as “tough and resilient” with a zest for life. “One minute enjoying a game of golf, the next ploughed down by a reckless act. My life will never be the same,” he said.
John McDonald admitted causing death by dangerous driving on the day his trial was due to start, having previously denied manslaughter. When arrested, he responded to the news of a death by saying, “Someone died?” The sentencing hearing continues.
