Anthony Benson

A killer driver was jailed for six years today for crushing a man to death during a violent brawl in a Wolverhampton suburb which was sparked by a request for a lighter.

Electrician Anthony Benson reversed a BMW into victim Stainton Barrett, pinning him to the wall of his own house as the driver’s friends cheered.

He admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Mr Barrett last September.

Five other men who were involved in the violence or who tried to have the car scrapped to cover up the evidence were also jailed today for between 18 months and four years.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Benson, aged 23, of Belle Vue Street, Woodcross, had been on an all-night drinking binge with friends.

He and four others were driving around “looking for excitement” when they pulled up outside The Monkey House pub in All Saints at around 5am.

Stainton Barrett, aged 59, approached the group when his brother Dalton asked for a light. A row developed between the victim and Paul Welburn, who chased Mr Barrett to his home in nearby Banstead Close.

Racist abuse was said to have been shouted as the victim, who was black. Dalton ran into the house and the brothers came out armed with a machete and a hammer.

When the gang saw this they began lobbing garden furniture towards them. Benson, who had stayed in the car, reversed up the road towards them and backed into Mr Barrett’s garden, crushing him against the porch wall.

HGV driver Welburn, 30, of Moseley Road, Bilston, was given four years after admitting violent disorder; Williams, 40, of Newman Avenue, Lanesfield, was given 18 months for admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice; Daryl Rickhuss, 28, of Dovedale Road, Ettingshall Park, David Garner, 27, of Beech Avenue, Woodcross, and Andrew Currien, 30, of Pritchett Avenue, Lanesfield, got 18 months after admitting affray.