How police caught 20-year-old laughing gas driver who killed Graham Slinn, 81, in Rotherham hit-and-run

The Star, Sheffield

DCI Tom Woodward breaks down investigation into hit-and-run death of Graham Slinn, 81, on A57 after 20-year-old Cain Byrne got behind the wheel with no licence, on cloned plates and all the while inhaling laughing gas.

Transcript

00:00Hello, I'm Tom Woodward, Detective Chief Inspector in the South Healshire Police's Major Crime Unit.

00:05On the 4th of April this year, on this road, the A57 heading towards Toddick,

00:10Graham Slynn lost his life. He was a loving father, grandfather and a real community spirit.

00:17We had reports going to our control room that a vehicle made off from the scene.

00:21All our efforts were then focused on trying to find out who's responsible for killing Graham.

00:27The serious collisions unit attended this scene and through some good work identified a Volkswagen Golf that was involved in the collision.

00:35And through inquiries, they identified that Cain Byrne had links to that vehicle and so he was arrested.

00:42Although he was interviewed, he didn't answer any questions and at that time he was bailed whilst further investigations could take place.

00:49Due to level of criminality involved and the challenges that this investigation would bring,

00:54a joint investigation between our serious collisions unit and the Major Crime Unit was launched

01:00to effectively work together to solve the case.

01:03I focused the investigation in three key areas, CCTV, witnesses and searchers,

01:09to try and identify the driver but also locate the car.

01:13Officers worked diligently, trawling hours of CCTV footage to try and identify who was the driver

01:21and also locate the car which was found burned out in the Derbyshire area.

01:26A breakthrough in the case came when officers found some CCTV identifying the vehicle and Cain as a driver

01:33several miles away and also locations in between.

01:36Cain Byrne had no driving licence and therefore no insurance so he shouldn't have been on the roads.

01:41It was creating great risks to the public of South Yorkshire and CCTV and witness evidence showed just how dangerous his driving was.

01:49Cain was re-arrested and was transported back to South Yorkshire where he was interviewed by experienced detectives within the Major Crime Unit.

01:56Throughout the interview he remained silent.

01:59Even when Graham's tribute from his family was read to him he refused to answer any questions whatsoever.

02:05They describe Graham as a husband, a dad and a grandad.

02:11They describe him as part of his employment.

02:15He was a carer for adults with learning disabilities.

02:18And his family describe him as a gentle, funny and kind to his core.

02:28How does it make you feel hearing that about Graham?

02:32He was charged with death by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

02:40Knowing that the evidence was against him, Cain pleaded guilty to all offences on the 12th of May at Sheffield Crown Court.

02:47Fatal road traffic collisions cause a rippling effect for our communities.

02:52They bring heartache to the families and all those that love them.

02:55And we in South Yorkshire Police are doing all we can to make these roads safer and bring people like Cain Byrne to justice.

03:02And at this time our thoughts remain with Graham's family and all those that loved him.

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