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The family of a dad who died after being hit by a dangerous driver are considering appealing against the "insulting" lengths of court sentences handed out. Gavin Andrews, 34, from Tottington, was crossing Walmersley Road in Bury after collecting a takeaway when he was struck by a BMW driven by Faizaan Haider on November 9, 2021. He tragically died following the collision, leaving behind a six-year-old daughter.
Following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Haider , 25, of Mosley Street, Bury, was sentenced to nine years and three months for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving while uninsured. His 43-year-old uncle Suaiel Haider, of Langdale Mews, Bury, who had been one of several passengers with him that night, set the car on fire in a bid to hide the evidence. He was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for committing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.
Gavin's sister Becky Andrews, 36, was at Minshull Street on Friday, April 25, along with other family members, when the two men were sentenced. Gavin was a "much-loved" brother to Daniel, Stacey and Becky, son to John and Isabell, grandson to Stuart and father to Lacey Rae. Speaking on behalf of the family, Becky said: “Our lives will never be the same again.
"Gavin was a massive part of our family and we now have to spend the rest of our lives without him. “He was funny and such a practical joker. He lived his life at 100 miles an hour and was always there when you needed him.
"You couldn’t be sad around him. Whenever he walked into a room, he’d have everyone laughing. It’s hard to put him into words.
“Gavin adored his little princess, Lacey-Rae. He worshiped the ground she walked on. “He was always there for my sons, Harley and Bradley.
He and Harley would often go fishing together and were so alike.” Gavin grew up in Bury and attended Belmont School in Rawtenstall . Becky said that he "never sat still and was always busy", finding work as a labourer after leaving education.
He loved fishing, was a "huge" Manchester City fan and could often be found helping his grandad, Stuart, at his community farm in Pimhole. Faizaan and Suaiel had been driving around Bury with several other passengers after attending a wake together and had been drinking. CCTV footage had shown Faizaan setting off fireworks in a restaurant car park and parking in a disabled bay hours before the fatal incident.
The car was travelling at 57mph in a 30mph zone and Faizaan did not stop the car nor make any attempt to contact emergency services after colliding with Gavin. Despite denying their roles in the crash, both uncle and nephew were convicted more than three years later following the trial. At the time of Gavin’s death, the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was 14 years in prison.
This has since been increased to life, but the judge had to abide by the previous sentencing guidelines. Becky added: “It’s insulting. Us, his family, are the ones left behind and having to live with a life sentence.
"It’s hard enough to accept his death as it is. “It’s disgusting, especially after we waited so long and then we had to sit through a long investigation and trial because they pleaded not guilty. “We are still trying to process everything we heard and they [Faizaan and Suaiel] showed no remorse at all in court.
“We’re looking at appealing but it’s not that straightforward. "We only have 28 days to do it but taking into account bank holidays and weekends, it’s more like 18 days. “You’d get longer to return an item of clothing.
” Becky and her family are now hoping to set up a campaign to urge the government to reconsider its sentencing guidelines. She added: “I don’t believe that their sentence reflects the crime. If someone goes out with a knife or acid, they clearly have an intent to harm, damage or even kill someone.
“It should be the same punishment when drivers get behind the wheel drunk or on drugs.” A spokesperson for the Sentencing Council said that they are unable to comment on individual cases..
