Hit and run drink driver jailed for EIGHT YEARS over death of much-loved Hartlepool man

Speeding William Lee Stallard, 35, collided head on with much-loved Michael Waistell, 58, on Mowbray Road, Hartlepool, as he was cycling to work early on Friday, July 31.

Mr Waistell, who had been the main carer for his wife, collided with the bonnet and windscreen of Stallard’s van while his mountain bike was thrown into a garden on the other side of the road.

He suffered fatal injuries and tragically died at the scene. But Stallard, who was still over the drink drive limit from the night before and had also taken cocaine, sped away leaving Mr Waistell in the road.

In the lead up to the collision, Stallard was seen by several witnesses driving aggressively through Hartlepool veering in and out of traffic nearly colliding with other road users.

Afterwards he reported his van had been stolen to try to evade responsibility, even continuing the lie after police showed him CCTV of him getting in it that morning from outside the Rovers Quoits Club on Easington Road.

In Mowbray Road, dog walker Andrew Harrison saw Stallard’s driving over 50mph and veer onto the opposite side of the road directly towards Mr Waistell.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett said: “Mr Harrison saw Mr Waistell veer slightly to the right, at the last moment, in an attempt to try and avoid a collision with the van, but he was unable to do anything to prevent the collision.

“No attempt was made by the driver to stop and check on the casualty. The collision would have been obvious, yet the driver continued to drive off.”

A heartbreaking statement was read by Mr Waistell’s daughter Laura as Stallard was jailed for eight years and four months at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (October 5).

In it she said: "We as a family will never get over what has happened to my dad although we have been shown so much love and support.

"What hurts us the most is the fact that he was just left alone to die.”

Stallard, of Moffatt Road, Hartlepool, had a bad record for driving offences including three previous drink driving convictions.

He admitted death by dangerous driving, drink driving and trying to pervert the course of justice.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said: “He maintains he tried to avoid him (Mr Waistell) but it was such a late stage he couldn’t.

"Thereafter, he tells me he panicked.”

Judge Howard Crowson told Stallard: “Your deliberate, selfish decision to drive whilst intoxicated led directly to the death of Michael Waistell; a much-loved and devoted husband and father and friend to many.

"You simply drove away leaving him in the road. Your only concern was for yourself.”

Stallard was also banned from driving for five years upon his release.

Senior Investigating Officer, Sergeant Stephen Clyburn from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Nothing will ever bring back Mr Waistell and his families’ lives will never be the same, however, Stallard has now been brought to justice and he will spend a significant time behind bars.

"I hope this sentence goes some way towards helping Mr Waistell’s family move forward with their lives.”

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