By Harry Leach

Copyright birminghammail

A killer driver who was arrested at Birmingham Airport before he could board a one-way flight to Istanbul with £4,000 in cash and his girlfriend by his side has been jailed. Alex Rose, 30, and partner Tara Knaggs, 25, were detained at the airport on July 23 last year just hours after he had callously mowed down two innocent men riding an e-bike in Sunbury Cross, Surrey. At around 12.52am the day before, the 30-year-old had ploughed into the young victims with his pick-up truck after he wrongly thought they had been trying to burgle his home. READ MORE: Tribute to ‘devoted’ dad who tragically died after Birmingham house fire The victims, 21-year-old William Birchard and 22-year-old Darren George, died from their catastrophic injuries. Rose, jailed today for murdering the two men, had previously been a victim of burglary at his business premises. Shortly before the fatal crash, Rose saw people moving around the grounds of a college which backed onto his home and he believed they were a group of burglars. Rose called Charles Pardoe, 25, and the pair drove around in his black Raptor for over an hour searching for the group. During the search Rose was in contact with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs, who remained at home. It was nearly 1am when Mr Birchard and Mr George’s paths crossed with Rose as they rode into Sunbury on a Talaria Sting e-bike. Investigators said Rose mistook them for being part of the group he had been searching for and pursued the e-bike along Green Street to the Sunbury Cross roundabout, exceeding speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone. In their efforts to get away, the victims drove the wrong way around the Sunbury Cross roundabout and onto the slip road travelling the wrong way towards the A316 and M3. Rose and Pardoe followed them in the Raptor, also travelling the wrong way, and collided with the bike, before fleeing the scene. Mr Birchard was killed instantly on the roadside whilst Mr George died later the same day in hospital. Rose later contacted police to falsely report his truck stolen in an attempt to get away with his shocking crime. Detectives managed to track the killer down at BHX on July 23 – just before he was about to board a one-way flight to Turkey’s biggest city with Knaggs. They had booked the flight just hours before and the lovers only had one carry-on bag between them. Inside were items of clothing and more than £4,000 in cash. Knaggs was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and Rose was arrested on suspicion of murder. Pardoe was arrested the following day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and later charged with murder. Rose, of Sunbury-upon-Thames, was found guilty of two counts of murder following a four-week trial at Guildford Crown Court. Pardoe, of Feltham, was also found guilty of two counts of murder. Knaggs, of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, was found guilty of assisting an offender. Today, September 22, Rose was sentenced to life behind bars and told he will serve a minimum of 34 years. He will also serve 21 months concurrently for perverting the course of justice. Pardoe was sentenced to life imprisonment and told he will serve a minimum of 29 years. Knaggs was sentenced to three years behind bars where she will serve a minimum of one year and two months prior to being considered for licence. Each of the defendants had their sentences marginally reduced to account for time already spent in custody prior to trial. A deprivation order was also granted for the £4,000 cash found on Rose and Knaggs when they attempted to leave the country. Following the sentencing, Mr Birchard’s dad said: “Today’s court outcome brings a measure of justice for our son William and his friend Darren. “While no sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing him, we take some comfort in knowing that those responsible have been held accountable. “William was not just a victim of a senseless crime – he was our beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. His life was filled with promise, and his loss has left a gap that will never be filled. “He had a kind heart, a bright smile, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him. We will remember him for his laughter, his loyalty and the joy he brought into our lives.” Mr George’s mum added: “Darren should still be with us, but he is not. A guilty verdict doesn’t change the past. Justice being served doesn’t heal the loss of our son. “We have had so much support from friends and family which has been invaluable. But it is those who have shown kindness even though they do not know us who have helped support us from afar: the lorry driver that stopped, the paramedics, and the air ambulance crew. “Darren’s dad is a man of few words. When he read the statement I had written for court, my husband simply uttered quietly, ‘I loved that boy’.” Detective Inspector Debbie Birch of Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team said: “My thoughts and sympathies remain, as always, with the family and friends of William Birchard and Darren George. “Today’s outcome will not change the fact that William and Darren’s lives were cut so unfairly short, but I hope that their loved ones will take some small comfort from seeing justice served.”