TWO men who helped a driver escape and cover up his crime — after his car hit and killed a mum-of-two — have been given suspended sentences.

Ludovic Mabiala and Nqobile Mariwandi helped Chikoto Tinashe, after he ran over and killed Louise Wolstenholme, on January 31.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the mum-of-two was dragged 100 metres along Bow Street, in Bolton, and left under Chikoto’s car — a Ford Focus — for almost two hours.

Mariwandi had been driving behind Chikoto in a Toyota and followed him into Back Bridge Street, where Chikoto abandoned his car.

The pair were seen on CCTV at the scene for six minutes before driving off.

It was minutes later, at around 10.14pm that Chikoto rang Mabiala and a series of text messages ensued.

The text messages from Mabiala to Chikoto said: “Delete the conversations and text messages now.

“Everything, everything. Your call history and texts and things — everything.”

Defending 26-year-old Mariwandi, David Temkin said his client wanted the family "to know of his sympathies”.

He added: “His remorse is evident, genuine and deep for what he has done.

“He acted in moments of madness, a short lived period of irrational behaviour.

“But immediately regretted and realised the wrong he had done.”

The court heard that Mariwandi dropped Chikoto near Mabiala’s home, in Hypatia Street in Tonge Moor, before phoning him to persuade him to go to the police.

Chikoto, aged 22, of Devonshire Road, Atherton, initially rang police to report his car stolen, before retracting his statement 30 minutes later and admitting to police that he had hit somebody.

Defending Mabiala, Adam Brown said his client would “regret what he has done for rest of his life.”

He added: “He whole heartedly accepts and doesn’t seek to minimise his involvement.

"The text messages came in close succession to one another, it looks like panic had set in.

“The defendant expresses his sincere apologies to the court and family.”

The pair both pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

Judge Timothy Clayson told Miriwandi: “You drove the defendant from the scene.

“You had the opportunity to give good advice to your friend Chikoto at the scene where you were for some minutes- you didn’t.

“You delayed assistance to her for over an hour.”

The judge told 24-year-old Mabiala: “Until challenged you were keen to minimise your involvement.

“But you weren’t at the scene and became involved unexpectedly.”

Mariwandi, of Patterson Street, Deane, was ordered to serve six months in prison, suspended for 12 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Mabiala was ordered to serve four months in prison, suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.