Life sentence for man who murdered by driving van at crowd in Ilkeston

A man who killed another man and injured two others after driving a van into a crowd in Ilkeston has been jailed for life.

Zac Newman, of The Crescent, Stapleford, pleaded not guilty to all the offences, but was convicted by a majority jury verdict of murder earlier this week following a trial at Derby Crown Court.

On 2nd July 2024, the 27-year-old was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years.

He was also sentenced to four years for section 18 GBH, two years for attempting to cause GBH, and 20 months for breaching a suspended sentence – these will be served concurrently with the life sentence.

Sam Wilson and two of his friends were struck by a van Newman deliberately drove into a crowd gathered at Ilkeston Market Place in the early hours of Saturday 16th December.

Mr Wilson, who was 26 years old, suffered catastrophic injuries to his chest, and despite attempts to save him he died at the scene of the collision.

Two other men, who were friends of Mr Wilson, also suffered injuries as a result of the collision which were not life threatening and received treatment at hospital.

They had been out as a group enjoying a night out in the run up to Christmas, and they were completely separate to Newman and the group he had been with.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Croome, who led the investigation, said: “The sentencing marks the end of an incredibly tragic and horrifying case, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Sam Wilson.

“Sam was simply out with his friends enjoying a night out on the run up to Christmas. He was a complete stranger to Zac Newman and had been minding his own business. He was an innocent bystander whose life was senselessly taken by Newman’s reckless and irresponsible actions.”

DCI Croome added: “During that night Newman made a series of deliberate and dangerous decisions, drinking alcohol and taking cocaine on numerous occasions. He had been violent and confrontational towards others in the Market Place, and this ended with him taking the horrific act of driving his van into a group of people.

“Newman’s behaviour had severe and devastating consequences and no sentence can ever truly compensate for the loss experienced by Sam’s loved ones. I hope that they will feel some measure of justice and peace as they continue to live with the impact of Newman’s actions.”