A roofing contractor has confessed to causing the death of a woman who was fatally injured by a van while enjoying a round of golf with her spouse.
On Monday, John McDonald, 51, admitted to causing death by dangerous driving at Worcester Crown Court. This plea relates to the tragic incident involving 62-year-old Suzanne Cherry, who was hit by a grey Nissan van at Aston Wood Golf Club in Shenstone, near Sutton Coldfield, on April 11 of the previous year.
At the time of the incident, the van was being chased by police, veering off the road and climbing an embankment before crashing onto the golf course. Mrs. Cherry, a mother of three, succumbed to her injuries four days later in the hospital.
In addition to this charge, McDonald, who hails from Bloxwich, also admitted to conspiracy to commit fraud concerning roofing projects between February and April last year. His son, Johnny McDonald, 22, from Dudley, and Brett Delany, 35, from Darlaston, Walsall, were also implicated.
The sentencing for all three individuals is scheduled for later this afternoon at the same court. Notably, all had previously denied the charge of manslaughter.
A significant number of Mrs. Cherry’s friends and family members attended the court session, filling the public gallery as the guilty pleas were submitted.
John McDonald, 51, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Worcester Crown Court on Monday in relation to the death of Suzanne Cherry, 62.
His son Johnny 22 admitted conspiracy commit fraud in relation to roofing work between February and April last year
Brett Delany, 35, of Darlaston, Walsall also admitted conspiracy to commit fraud over roofing work
Mrs Cherry’s husband Clinton Harrison was with her when she was hit by the van. He told how he watched in ‘helpless horror’ as her life was ‘snatched away in an instant’.
Paying tribute to his wife in a statement released by police after her death, Mr Harrison said: ‘On Friday 11 April, while enjoying what should have been the safest of one of Suzanne’s many activities, I watched in helpless horror as the life of my beautiful wife and our future together was snatched away in an instant.
‘Suzanne had an amazing and infectious zest for life which touched everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.
‘She was unselfish, always ready to encourage with love and support those around her to achieve more than they themselves thought possible.’
He said his wife left a ‘legacy and an unfillable void’ in the lives of her mother Maureen, her three adult children, two step-children and ‘countless others from her work, her sporting activities and social circle’.
He said: ‘Sue was loved, and will be painfully missed by her entire family and friends, we ask that our privacy at this difficult time be respected.’
Suzanne Cherry, a mother of three, died in hospital four days after the crash
Mrs Cherry was playing golf with her husband when she was hit by the van
Officers in two patrol cars had first started following a grey Nissan van in Kingstanding, Birmingham, after receiving reports of suspicious activity.
They stopped following the van when it came off the road and went up an embankment at Aston Wood Golf Club, where it hit Ms Cherry.
The driver and two passengers ran from the scene.
In dashcam footage obtained by MailOnline, a van is seen speeding past a car on a roundabout while being chased by a police car.
Then, separate CCTV footage shows the moment the van left the A4026 between Sutton Coldfield and Shenstone, before careering up a bank to the side of the entrance road.
Two police cars appeared to be in pursuit, with an officer seen jumping out of their vehicle and giving chase on foot over a grassy bank.
Neighbours also paid tribute to Ms Cherry, a company director.
A neighbour said: ‘She was a much-loved friend and neighbour. What happened was just appalling.
‘She was playing golf with her husband. He saw it all happen and is a broken man.’
Another neighbour from the quiet cul-de-sac where the Cherry family lived said: ‘Going to play the game you love on a beautiful day and then that happens. It is beyond comprehension.
‘Why would anyone be driving a van up that bank and onto a golf course. It’s insanity.’
In a tribute online, directors, members of staff and our members of nearby Calderfields Golf and Country Club offered their condolences to her family and friends.
They said: ‘Our thoughts also go out to our neighbours, their staff and friends at Aston Wood, this was a tragic and very sad occurrence which should not happen anywhere, let alone on the tranquil environment of a golf course.’
