Tragedy driver jailed for six years

A man has been jailed for six years after admitting causing the death of teenager Joshua McAuley by dangerous driving.

Mahamed Salam, aged 29, of Green Street, West Bromwich, was also banned from driving for 10 years.

Joshua, a Jehovah's Witness, of Church Gardens, Smethwick, was out preaching when he was struck by Salam's red Vauxhall Astra and pinned against a shop front in Smethwick, in May.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he was trapped in the wreckage for an hour and airlifted to hospital, where he later died. Anthony Potter defending, said Salam fled because of "shock and fear".

Joshua, of Church Gardens, Smethwick, was trapped for an hour following the crash at 11.15am.

Workers and customers were also trapped in Saya International Foods.

Residents and shopkeepers rushed out to try to help him, but were held back by emergency service crews, who feared the whole building could collapse.

Joshua was flown by air ambulance to Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital after being freed from the rubble, but died six hours later.

He turned down a blood transfusion due to his religious beliefs, it emerged.

Elders from the congregation at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Smethwick where Joshua's family worshipped claimed he was conscious and made the choice personally.

At the opening of his inquest on June 22 last year Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain said the youngster suffered severe leg injuries in the crash and needed surgery.

Mr Balmain said he was told there was no blood transfusion due to the teenager's religious beliefs.

Friends remembered a gifted student, who was "like a brother" to them, and would always go out of his way to help people.

A 50-strong group of pals held a candlelit vigil at the crash site the day after his death, where scores of bouquets were laid.

Among those who paid their respects was 19-year-old Ali Bornaisorkhabi of Bearwood, who was in the store at the time of the crash.

Afterwards, Mark Grundy, headteacher of Shireland Collegiate Academy described Joshua as an "outstandingly talented young man who had an incredibly bright future ahead of him".