Death-crash driver was banned

THE man behind the wheel of car which crashed in Chadderton killing three people was banned from driving, it has emerged.

Paul Bunting (30) died, along with Christopher Morrison (23) and Cassie Fox (19) when the rented Vauxhall Vectra they were travelling in ploughed into a garden wall in Middleton Road following a high-speed police chase in the early hours of Sunday.

Another passenger, 18-year-old mother-of-two Claire Matthews remains critically ill in Hope Hospital following the accident.

A police patrol car had attempted to stop the Vectra after it ran a red light in Mumps at around 3.30am, but the Vauxhall sped off, with the officers in pursuit.

A CPS source today confirmed Bunting appeared before magistrates in February, this year, and was handed a 30-week suspended jail sentence for driving while disqualified.

He had not regained his licence at the time of his death.

In April, 2002, Bunting was jailed for six years for the attempted robbery of a Royton post office.

It has also emerged that Bunting was due to appear before Rochdale magistrates with two other men this Friday charged with affray, possessing an imitation firearm, possessing a knife and assault causing actual bodily harm. Bunting was alleged to have blinded the victim in one eye after stabbing him in the eye.

In August, 2007, he was given a 12-month community order and ordered to undergo 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to possession of Class A and Class C drugs.

Cassie’s distraight mum Sandra, paid a moving tribute to her daughter.

She said: “Cassie was a much-loved daughter, sister and mother of a two-year-old son.

“Everybody who knew Cassie liked her.

“She wasn’t just my daughter, she was my best friend. Her son Lewis James was her world and her life. Me, her brothers, her partner, and the rest of her family and friends miss her terribly.”

A tribute page has been set up for Cassie on the website gone toosoon.org.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has looked into the weekend’s crash and concluded that the officers involved acted properly. There will be no further investigation.

However, the Greater Manchester Police Standards Branch will continue to review the exact circumstances of the events leading up to the horrific crash.