Man jailed for dangerous driving that killed his friend

A man who was under the influence of alcohol and driving at grossly excessive speeds when he killed his friend has been jailed.

Martin Green, 36, of Beech Avenue in Lowton near Wigan, was driving his car on Southworth Road in Newton-Le-Willows at around 10.30pm on 10 June 2024. Jonny Menell was a front seat passenger in the car at the time.

Green had been drinking in the hours leading up to the collision and was driving at grossly excessive speeds of up to 120mph in a 30mph limit.

Green failed to negotiate a left-hand bend, and the car came off the road, went down an embankment and ended up in a wooded area. Tragically, Mr Menell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Green later admitted to medical staff that he'd drunk six cans of lager before getting into the vehicle, but refused to provide a sample of breath until over three hours after the collision. 

The Crown Prosecution Service was able to obtain a back calculation from a forensic scientist which showed Green was over the limit at the time of the collision.

Green pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing on 25 July 2025 and on 29 July 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to eight years in jail. 

Senior Crown Prosecutor Andrew Madden of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “The untimely loss of Jonny Mennell has caused unimaginable pain to his family.

“On 10 June 2024, Martin Green made a deliberate choice to get behind the wheel of the car after consuming a quantity of alcohol. He then proceeded to drive at grossly excessive speeds and eventually lost control of the car, causing the death of Jonny.

“The Crown Prosecution Service hopes the sentence imposed by the court today serves as a strong deterrent. Dangerous driving can have tragic consequences and will not be tolerated.”