The face of killer Sunderland drink-driver who left a cyclist to die in the street

This is the face of a drink-driver who left a man to die in the street after knocking him off his bike in a hit-and-run road traffic collision.

Vicky Hardy was jailed for six years at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at the same court in June. She was also handed an eight-year driving ban.

A court heard that Hardy, 44, had spent the night drinking in a local pub before getting into her BMW to drive home at around 1.15am on July 31, 2022. Just a short time later, her vehicle struck Ali Reza Ghaisar on Hylton Road in Sunderland.

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Mr Ghaisar, 48, was out cycling when he was struck by a blue BMW car, which then fled the area. Ali was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Following his death, his family released moving tributes to him, describing him as "one of a kind" and someone who was "loved by all". Of Iranian origin, Ali spoke six languages fluently – English, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish and Portuguese. He often used to help people who struggled with English and would attend appointments with them to translate.

An investigation from Northumbria Police later identified Hardy, 44, as the driver of the BMW vehicle. She had left the scene of the collision before later returning.

The investigation found that on the evening of the collision, Hardy had drank five pints of cider in a nearby pub before getting behind the wheel. She was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

In a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court in June, Hardy, of Helmsdale Road in Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the offence and was released on conditional bail. Yesterday, (Monday) she was back at the same court where she was sentenced to six years in prison and handed an eight-year driving ban.

Following the hearing, Sergeant John Sanderson of Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to Ali’s family for the strength and bravery they have shown. The last two years have been incredibly difficult for them and we are pleased that they now have justice for him. We hope they can take some closure from the fact the person responsible for causing Ali’s death is now serving a custodial sentence."

Sgt Sanderson added: "This a tragic case and one which was entirely avoidable. Ali was simply riding his bike at the time when he was struck by Hardy's vehicle. She then showed a total disregard for the welfare of Ali by fleeing the scene and failing to call an ambulance and other emergency services.

"Thanks to the hard work of our officers and information received from members of the public, we were able to trace her, get her charged and before the courts where she pleaded guilty. We hope this case acts as a warning to others that if you drive a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner and that driving causes the death of another, expect to be put before the courts and receive a custodial sentence."