Burglar given life sentence after running over British ex-naval officer in front of his wife

Gibbons gave no reaction but there were gasps from his family in the public gallery and one said "You’re joking", before his father shouted "Love you, son" as he was taken down to the cells at Manchester Crown Court.

Moments earlier Mr Samwell’s wife Jessica had read a poignant victim impact statement to the court speaking of her "overwhelming grief" as she watched her husband die.

The couple had been woken in the night as burglars broke into their £450,000 house on Cranbourne Road, Chorlton, south Manchester, snatching the keys to the car from the kitchen table.

Mr Samwell, a nuclear engineer after serving 12 years in the forces, rushed outside in his boxer shorts, shouting "Get out of the car!", followed by his wife who saw him go under the wheels as Gibbons sped off.

She held his hand and told him she loved him as he lay dying from "catastrophic" chest and heart injuries.

Here's a statement read out on behalf of Mike Samwell's wife outside #Manchester Crown Court last night. His killers have been jailed today pic.twitter.com/SG2HMrz4w6

— Hits Radio News | Manchester (@hitsmcrnews) November 1, 2017

Passing sentence Mr Justice William Davis told Gibbons: "He was killed in front of her eyes and died as she was holding his hand on the driveway of his own home.

"You are a dangerous young man, you are a regular burglar and on this occasion, to get what you wanted, you quite ruthlessly killed a man."

Mrs Samwell, with dark rings under her eyes and a halting voice, spoke from the witness box as Gibbons and co-defendant Raymond Davies lowered their heads and did not look at her.

She said: "There are no words that can truly express how the loss of Mike has affected me.

"I feel overwhelming grief for the future we will never have, the birthdays and anniversaries, and to think of the children we will never share is devastating.

"The loss of such a caring, loyal and warm man who supported me for 10 years is too much to bear.

"The hole he’s left becomes even more tangible.

"I now know the days get harder, the physical pain, loss and longing for Mike has not ended.

"The loss of Mike has felt catastrophic."

Mrs Samwell described her husband as her "best friend" and team mate", and said she now found it too traumatic to return to work and the happy home they shared.

She continued: "The stark reminder of what happened on that night felt like too much to cope with.

"It feels like no-one will ever understand.

"The last image I have of Mike lying on the ground, groaning in pain, holding his hand will stay with me for the rest of my life.

"The man who meant more to me than anything in the world had been mindlessly and brutally killed."

Father-of-four Gibbons, of Steven Court, Chorlton, and Davies, 21, were convicted on Tuesday after a three-week trial.

Gibbons was found guilty of murder, and Davies, who drove him to the address and picked him up after the car was taken, was jailed for eight years for manslaughter.

Gibbons had a long record of burglary and theft, while Davies had previous convictions for drugs offences.

The court heard how Gibbons, a £600-a-week concrete floor contractor, who does not have a driving licence, had been taking cocaine and drinking on the night Mr Samwell died.

He returned home then went to buy some cannabis but came across Davies sat in his car with two other men he refused to name.

Gibbons claimed talk turned to carrying out a burglary to steal a "nice car" to sell for £2,000 and he suggested the Samwells’ house because of the Audi.

Davies dropped them off outside and Gibbons waited while the other two men broke in and gave him the keys to get the car.

Mr Samwell and his wife were woken at 3am by a sound every householder "must fear and dread" as burglars smashed the kitchen patio doors.

He ran downstairs in his underwear and went outside, followed by his wife.

She broke down in tears, giving evidence from behind a screen in the witness box, telling jurors she saw her husband on the floor with the wheels of his car resting on his chest.

The car then rolled off him as it reversed, leaving him between both sets of wheels. It ran over him again and sped off.

Gibbons claimed he was not aware of anyone near the car but felt "something under the back wheels".

Raymond Davies, convicted of Mike Samwell's manslaughter, has been jailed for 8 years. Judge says: "This was a planned burglary expedition." pic.twitter.com/kxYBpFcuuQ

— BBC North West (@BBCNWT) November 1, 2017

In cross-examination, Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, asked him: "What was it about the 5ft 11in man wearing just his boxer shorts and shouting for you to get out of his car, what was it you failed to notice?"

Gibbons replied: "I never seen anybody."