Man caused death of 11-year-old by dangerous driving

Ruby Cropper died on New Road in the town in August 2020 after being hit by a vehicle being driven by Andrew Cairns.

Cairns, 36, had admitted causing the death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

He denied the more serious charge of causing the death by dangerous driving and had been on trial at the Hilton in Deansgate, operating as a nightingale court during the pandemic.

And today, after around more than five hours of deliberations, the jury found him guilty.

Cairns, from Rupert Street in Radcliffe, showed no reaction as the decision was read out.

Members of the family of Ruby Cropper were audibly relieved at the outcome.

Judge Timothy Smith said “there is only one sentence that is possible.”

He ordered a report into Cairns and will sentence him next month.

The judge also said he would like victim personal statements from the family of the young girl.

During the course of the trial the court heard Cairns had performed overtaking manoeuvres in the build up to the collision which took place in the early evening.

His vehicle was caught on camera going at 38mph eight metres along from the collision.

Police Sergeant Laura Drew from GMP’s collision investigation unit told the court there were two possibilities.

These were that if he had gone at a constant speed he would have hit the girl at 38mph.

If he had braked heavily the collision took place when he was going at around 44mph.

The road in question has a speed limit of 30mph.

The police sergeant said the collision would have been avoided if Cairns had stuck to the speed limit.

Cairns rang the police from his nearby home and told them he had hit a pedestrian.

When questioned he said he had “slammed on” his brakes but giving evidence he said he “must have lied” then as he did not brake.

Under cross examination from prosecutor Jamie Baxter he declined to answer any more questions.

Cairns will learn the length of his sentence on February 10.