Man admits causing Staffordshire golf course crash death

A man has admitted killing a woman hit by a van on a golf course.

Suzanne Cherry, 62, died in hospital in April, four days after she was hit at Aston Wood Golf Club in Staffordshire by a grey Nissan, which had been involved in a police pursuit.

John McDonald, 51, of Booth Street in Bloxwich, West Midlands, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He is expected to be sentenced later today at Worcester Crown Court.

McDonald, and co-defendants Johnny McDonald, 23, of Molyneux Road in Dudley, and Brett Delaney, 35, of Michael Road in Darlaston, all pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to commit fraud between February 17 and April 12 last year by making false representations that roofing work was needed when it was not.

All three men had previously denied manslaughter charges last year.

Cherry, from Aldridge, was killed “while enjoying what should have been the safest” of her many hobbies, her husband said.

He said his “beautiful wife” had an “amazing and infectious zest for life” before their “future together was snatched away in an instant”.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the fatal collision and the involvement of West Midlands Police officers.

The watchdog said two patrol cars had started following a van in Kingstanding, Birmingham, after receiving reports of suspicious activity.

They stopped following the van when it came off the road and went up an embankment at Aston Wood Golf Club, where it hit Ms Cherry.