Footballer jailed for six years for causing fatal accident after drinking session
Judge Christopher Hodson said he had no doubt the 28-year-old West Brom forward, who is thought to have downed six whiskies, fled the scene of the crash because he knew he would fail a breath test.
Hughes’ six-day trial at Coventry Crown Court heard how the disgraced star’s £100,000 super-charged Mercedes sports car ploughed into an oncoming Renault near his home, killing passenger Douglas Graham almost instantly.
The married father-of-two, who had been drinking at two pubs near his home in Meriden, West Midlands, then ran from the scene and only turned himself into police 34 hours later.
Jailing the player, the judge told Hughes he had shown a “callous disregard” for his victims, including father-of-four Mr Graham’s wife, Maureen, and driver Albert Frisby, who must now use a wheelchair.
Hughes was banned from driving for 10 years and it emerged that he had previously received a 12-month ban for drink-driving when he was 18.
The ashen-faced footballer bit his lip as the jury found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and later appeared to wink at his Croatian wife, Anna, as he was led away to the cells.
The judge told Hughes that alcohol had “clearly played a part” in the tragedy.
“I realise that your football career is at an end,” said the judge, “but remember that Douglas Graham’s life is at an end. In running away you showed a callous disregard for others.
“I am quite satisfied that in running away you were thinking only of yourself and you were attempting to avoid the legal consequences of driving having consumed alcohol.
“You clearly believed that if you had been breathalysed, then you would have been over the limit.”
Relatives of Mr Graham, including his wife, aged 50, and their two sons and two daughters, greeted the verdict with cries of “Yes” before bursting into tears.
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