Revealed: Face of killer of popular carer mowed down in Tipton who is awaiting sentence
This is the face of Carlton Betts who killed popular carer Darren Whitehouse in Tipton by mowing him down in a stolen car four years ago.
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West Midlands Police officers have now released a photograph of Carlton Betts who lost control of a stolen Nissan which mounted the pavement in St Mark's Road, in Tipton, and struck the victim and a friend on February 27, 2021.
Mr Whitehouse was talking with a friend outside Greenlawns flats when the speeding car driven by Betts, aged 28, ploughed into the pair.
Betts drove off leaving Mr Whitehouse, aged 43, lying in the road. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the carer died at the scene.
His friend suffered minor injuries, but was left traumatised by what happened.
Betts dumped the car nearby in Griffiths Street, before returning to St Marks Road, but he didn’t make himself known and left.
West Midlands Police launched an investigation and Betts was identified as a suspect and arrested.
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and released on court bail, but he failed to attend court and was absent for the trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court last month.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and on April 24 officers picked him up in the Tipton area.
Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This verdict won’t bring Darren back, but it will help his family someway to moving forward.
"They have constantly fought for justice for Darren and have patiently waited for this verdict and I thank them for that patience and belief in my team.
“Despite knowing what he has put Darren’s family through, Betts still tried to avoid facing up to what he did, instead putting the family through more pain.
“With Betts now behind bars, he can finally face justice for Darren’s death and the pain he has caused Darren’s family and friends.”
After missing several appearances at court Betts was absent on the first day of his trial last month, but Judge Simon Ward ruled the proceedings should go ahead in his absence. Within days he was caught and reluctantly sat in the dock.
The jury was shown shocking videos of Betts speeding around Tipton in a stolen Nissan Infiniti before losing control and careering into pedestrian Darren Whitehouse shunting him 30 metres down St Marks Road, where he died shortly afterwards.
Footage of Betts driving erratically moments before killing Mr Whitehouse will be released when he is sentenced.
The jury unanimously found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
The community of Tipton helped bring Betts to justice raising £20,000 for a reward about the driver of the car after the police investigation stalled for a year.
The popular 43-year-old was a full time carer for his disabled mother and there were friends and family in the public gallery to see Betts found guilty.
His death prompted a massive outpouring of grief across the town and sympathy for his disabled mother who relied on her son for full time care.
Betts, of Union Street, Tipton, could be sentenced to life imprisonment after the increase of the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving under the last Government.
Betts will be sentenced in May during a hearing which a date has yet to be fixed.
