By Stephen Topping

Copyright manchestereveningnews

An ‘idiotic’ speeding driver was seen using nitrous oxide two minutes before killing his friend in a devastating crash. Ryan Evans, 27, was one of three passengers in an Audi A3 being driven by Arran Donnelly, now 28, through Stockport when tragedy struck. Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Donnelly was seen driving at up to ‘two-and-a-half times’ the speed of other vehicles in Reddish on Saturday, February 24, last year. He lost control of the car while approaching a bend on Broadstone Road, mounting the kerb before crashing into a wall. Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here Donnelly and the two passengers sat on the left-hand-side of the car survived, but Mr Evans – who was sat behind the driver – tragically died at the scene. The court heard Mr Evans was only a matter of days away from jetting off to Thailand with his brother when the crash took place, leaving the family ‘torn apart’ by his ‘sudden and senseless loss’. The four friends were only on a short drive as they made their way to a pub – but that was enough time for Donnelly’s driving to have devastating consequences. A brief video clip officers discovered on Mr Evans’ phone, shown in court, featured Donnelly in the driving seat with a balloon in his mouth at around 5.57pm and 0.7 miles from the scene of the crash, which took place at 5.59pm. Prosecuting, Fiona Clancy said witnesses described seeing Donnelly using ‘aggressive acceleration’ through the residential area with a 30mph speed limit. One witness described seeing Donnelly ‘start to accelerate away at an alarming speed, as if the accelerator had been floored’. Witnesses estimated the Audi had been travelling ‘at least double’ the 30mph limit, with one estimating speeds of ‘around 70mph to 80mph’ and describing the car being driven ‘like a bat out of hell’. Ms Clancy told the court that visibility was ‘clear’ at the time of the crash, and no defects were found in the road surface which could have led to the collision, with police concluding that ‘driver error’ most likely caused the crash. CCTV footage showed the Audi travelling at excessive speed along Broadstone Road. In one clip, sparks could be seen emerging from the car after it had mounted the kerb and continued travelling along the road. Further footage showed the car spin left by 90 degrees at Houldsworth Street, before coming to a halt with the right-hand side of the car crashing into a wall outside Houldsworth Mill, opposite the Grey Horse pub. Ms Clancy recalled evidence from witnesses in the moments after the crash, who described seeing Donnelly ‘squeeze out of the driver’s door’ before remaining at the scene. His front-seat passenger was seen ‘limping badly’ after getting out of the Audi and into another vehicle before leaving, while the passenger sat next to Mr Evans left the car ‘looking dazed’, the court heard. A number of passers-by tried to help Mr Evans before emergency services arrived, including a retired firefighter. Officers arrested Donnelly. They discovered six balloons for nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas – in the car, alongside ‘several large cannisters’ of the gas, Ms Clancy said. One of the balloons was found to have Donnelly’s DNA on it. Prosecutors suggested the driver may have lost control of the car because of his use of the class C drug, although its effects are short-lived. His Honour Judge Usher said he could not be sure the drug caused the collision, although Donnelly’s use of laughing gas was an aggravating factor during sentencing. He added: “How can I be sure that he wasn’t driving in the idiotic way that he was simply because he’s an idiot, rather than the effects of the drug?” There were tears shed among the packed public gallery as a string of moving victim impact statements were read out on behalf of Mr Evans’ family and close friends. Donnelly – wearing a black jacket, white shirt and black tie in the dock – was seen sighing, looking down and wiping tears as he heard the toll his actions had taken on Mr Evans’ loved ones. His dad, John Evans, said his ‘lovely’ eldest son would ‘do anything for you if he could’, while mum Eloise Mckeown described his ‘beautiful personality’, adding: “I would give literally anything just to have a few minutes with him to know he’s OK.” Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE Defending, Hunter Gray said Donnelly had no previous convictions, a clean driving licence and that he had recently become a father. In a letter read by Mr Gray in court, Donnelly told Mr Evans’ family: “I know that nothing I can say can ease the pain that I have caused. I just want you to know how truly sorry I am for the hurt and suffering I have brought into your lives.” Donnelly, of Ince Close, Heaton Norris, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Evans’ death by dangerous driving at an earlier court hearing. He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, of which he will serve up to half behind bars and the remainder on licence. Donnelly was also handed a driving ban totalling eight years and four months, prior to a mandatory retest. In sentencing, Judge Usher told Donnelly: “Driven dangerously by young men like you, cars can be – as this case sadly yet again demonstrates – as deadly as lethal weapons.” Following the sentence, Detective Constable Alex Giblin, of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Donnelly’s actions and driving on this day resulted in a young man tragically losing his life. “Evidence found that Donnelly had been travelling at speed and consuming nitrous oxide whilst driving. I hope this sentence becomes reality for other road users who think these actions are acceptable.”