Man and woman jailed after fatal attempted car theft in Manchester

Today (Thursday 13 February) Marvin Sutton (13/03/1989) of Anthony Close, Manchester, was jailed for ten years and six months. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and theft. Also sentenced for her role, Charlene Thomas (19/07/1987) of Moss Lane East pleaded guilty to theft. For this, she was sentenced 21 months. She was also sentenced to three years and three months for robbery for an unrelated offence which occurred in 2022. Her sentences will run consecutively and she will be jailed for five years.

On the morning of Saturday 16 March 2024, Marvin Sutton and Charlene Thomas conspired to steal a Land Rover Discovery in Beswick, East Manchester.

The car belonged to Christopher Hanley, who was described by his loved ones as a ‘devoted family man who adored his grandchildren.’

Tragically, as Chris was alerted to his car being stolen, he tried to stop Sutton from getting away. Sutton drove dangerously, which caused Chris to be thrown from the bonnet of the car, causing fatal head injuries.

Despite the best efforts of members of the public and emergency services, Chris sadly died at the scene, leaving a family searching for answers.

Our Major Incident Team launched an investigation and began conducting extensive CCTV trawls and speaking with residents and potential witnesses to understand the tragic circumstances of how Chris lost his life.

In the early hours of the morning on Sunday 17 March, the stolen and now abandoned Land Rover was found and it was clear that there were attempts made to set it alight. Detectives believe that this was orchestrated by Sutton to try and destroy any forensic evidence that could link him to the car. Police recovered the vehicle, and it formed a crucial part of the investigation.

It’s believed that Sutton then stayed at an address nearby, lying low in an attempt to evade police. However, on Sunday evening, Sutton was arrested on suspicion of murder, and despite answering no comment to all questions put to him by detectives, he was swiftly charged and remanded into custody. 

Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Smith from our Major Incident Team said: “The selfish and irresponsible actions of Sutton and Thomas that day meant a man tragically lost his life trying to defend his own property.

“Today’s sentences reflect the calculated and cruel nature of their crime and whilst no sentence can bring Chris back, I hope this outcome is able to provide some small comfort to all those that knew and loved him.”

Paying tribute to Chris, his family said: ”Chris was a proud grandad, his grandchildren were his whole world, but he was robbed of the chance to watch them grow up and experience their own life milestones.

“He was our rock, he was a supportive, caring, kind and loving man. He had a great sense of humour; he was always poking fun at others and himself.

“His laugh, and passion for life, was infectious, and he enjoyed walking his dog, Lenny, and supporting his boyhood club, Manchester City.

“He had the biggest heart; he would always go out of his way to help anyone.

“To know him, and be loved by him, was a privilege.

“His loss has left us with a huge hole in our lives, and he will never be forgotten.”