Motorist who knocked down and ran over elderly Irishman in London faces jail time

Anop Singh (31) fled from the scene after running over 72-year-old John ‘Frank’ Heneghan on August 12, 2017 in a bid to escape.

Mr Heneghan who had been visiting friends in London was out with Michael Herlin and Gerry Rafferty when they took a bus from Tottenham to Stamford Hill after closing time.

Mr Heneghan got off alone on High Road Tottenham, when Mr Herlin told Wood Green Crown Court in a statement: “The next thing I heard was a screeching noise, really loud.

“Almost instantly I saw something flying past the screen. I didn’t know what it was.

"The bus driver stopped and everyone got off and the driver said I think that’s your mate.

When they got off the bus, they realised their friend lay seriously injured in the road.

"When we saw Frank there was nothing we could do, the police were there."

Mr Rafferty described the moments after the crash and when he realised his friend had been struck down in another statement.

He said: "Everyone on the bus was looking over. I heard people gasping in disbelief and then I saw a body flying across.

"I saw a car, not sure what it was, maybe a black Golf. I saw the car pause for a brief moment and then it drove over the person to get away.

"By the time I got to the person, someone was near them on their knees calling an ambulance. Then I realised it was Frank."

Mr Heneghan was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics shortly before 2am.

Singh who had suffered a black eye in the collision drove home and later called police saying his rented VW Golf was sitting damaged on his driveway.

He said he had no knowledge of how the car had got there, despite having the keys in his possession, as he claimed to have been asleep in the rear of the vehicle at the time.

Singh also claimed not to know who the driver was.

While undergoing treatment for an eye injury medics observed glass particles around that area.

Singh was then arrested but chose to make no comment to all questions when interviewed by police.

Singh, of Jessam Road, Clapton, was convicted of one count of death by dangerous driving and one count of driving dangerously.

He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice at an earlier trial linked to the case.

He will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court later today

Catherine Gould from the CPS said: “A thorough police investigation clearly showed Singh driving the VW Golf during the course of the evening to a pub and a club with friends.

"Careful analysis of telephone data, CCTV images and forensic work ensured that there was no doubt that Singh was the driver, despite his claims that a mystery man had collected the car just before the collision occurred."

Ms Gould added: "His [Anop Singh's] actions have caused immeasurable distress to Frank’s loved ones, who have been present throughout these proceedings and have witnessed for themselves the numerous lies Singh has told in a desperate attempt to save himself."