Man to be sentenced for off-duty ambulance man’s car park murder

Sheldon Flanighan, 55, was killed and his friend Wayne Common was badly injured when Toby Kelly deliberately hit them with his van.

Toby Kelly was found guilty of murder after Sheldon Flanighan was killed and his friend was badly injured when Kelly deliberately hit them with his van in a pub car park (Northumbria Police/PA) (PA Media)

A van driver who deliberately ran over an off-duty ambulance worker following a pub car park row will be sentenced on Wednesday to life for his murder.

Sheldon Flanighan, 55, was killed and his friend Wayne Common was badly injured when Toby Kelly deliberately hit them with his van in the car park of the Bay Horse in Cramlington, Northumberland, in April.

Following a trial which lasted almost five weeks at Newcastle Crown Court, Kelly was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Mr Flanighan and his friend were in the pub when they noticed a disturbance between Kelly and a woman, and they went to help her.

Kelly, the woman and another man were ejected from the premises and they got in his van, which he then deliberately drove into Mr Flanighan and Mr Common, before he sped away.

Mr Flanighan died at the scene despite the best efforts of the emergency services.

Mr Common was badly hurt and has been left with long-term injuries.

The 38-year-old defendant, of Wansbeck Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, was convicted last week.

Outside court, detective chief inspector Dave Johnson said: “Kelly’s actions were despicable and there was absolutely no need for Sheldon to lose his life, or for Wayne to sustain the serious injuries he did.”