A grieving dad has described wearing a ‘brave face’ which ‘masks reality’ after his son was killed by a drink driver. Paul Whitfield was so drunk he did not realise he had ploughed his Mazda into Adam Cunliffe, a 21-year-old animal technician at the University of Manchester.

His body was dragged underneath the car for a kilometre following the collision – horrifying onlookers. Whitfield has now been jailed for causing Mr Cunliffe’s death.

He had tripped and falling into the road, before Whitfield drove into him, the Liverpool Echo reports. Mr Cunliffe’s dad told Liverpool Crown Court how he ‘lived and breathed’ for his son – who was cruelly snatched away by Whitfield’s ‘selfishness’.

In his victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Michael Pickavance, Alan Cunliffe said: “I lived and breathed for Adam’s existence – he was my only child. My ray of sunshine.”

The statement was read to Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, August 6, as Whitfield was sentenced to seven years and four months for causing the death of his son. Alan Cunliffe said he and his son had shared interests in playing table tennis and pool, and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and holidays to Portugal.

He added: “The image of him lying in his coffin with his injuries will never leave my mind. When people see me they see me putting on a brave face. I’m determined to not be a victim. But these are empty words and the lies mask the true reality.”

Mr Cunliffe said his son’s death had forced him away from Haydock, in St Helens, because he ‘felt suffocated’. Addressing Whitfield, he added: “Your selfishness killed my son.”

The court also heard from Liam Conway, Mr Cunliffe’s brother, who said: “Adam was my best friend, I miss him like crazy. The day we lost him was one of the worst of my life.

“That was also the day my mum broke and there was no going back…Our mum passed away aged 43 in April 2023. After that all my three younger brothers were split up and went and lived with their dads. That has impacted my brothers massively. There is a hole that will never be filled.”

Mr Cunliffe’s partner, Ms Clayton, said she will never forget the knock on the door the morning after his death. She said: “I am filled with so much anger. My son will never grow up knowing his dad.

“All he will have are pictures and memories. One day my sweet, innocent, funny little boy will ask questions about his dad and I don’t know how I will answer.” She added: “When it happened I was so lost. I still am and if I didn’t have my son I don’t know if I would have the strength to keep going.”

Opening the sentencing hearing, Mr Pickavance said: “On January 12, 2022 at around 12.33am, a crash occurred between the defendant’s blue Mazda and Adam Cunliffe on Washway Lane in St Helens. Earlier in the afternoon the defendant was caught on CCTV driving his car into the town centre.

“He parked before visiting a number of licensed premises before he ended up at Penny’s bar on Duke Street. At 12.14am he returned to his car and drove off using a number of side roads. While he was getting into his car, Adam Cunliffe was at the Texaco garage. An eyewitness, Matthew Rivers, recalled Mr Cunliffe was struggling to get his words out. He was seen walking away down the road.”

Mr Pickavance told the court that shortly after Mr Cunliffe left the garage, an eyewitness – a driver on the opposite carriageway – recalled seeing an object lying in the road. As they got closer they saw it was a person. Despite the warnings of other motorists who flashed their lights and shouted out of their windows, the defendant “neither slowed nor braked and drove over Mr Cunliffe”.

The prosecutor said Neil Ruddock, who was driving behind Whitfield, saw “debris, then a pair of trainers, then a set of legs and finally the body of Mr Cunliffe”. The incident happened near the Moss Bank pub and there were a number of people waiting for a taxi home who saw the horrific incident. Mr Cunliffe was confirmed dead at the scene.

The court heard by chance an unmarked police car was in the area at the time and managed to capture the defendant’s number plate. The defendant was arrested at his home shortly after 4am and blew 49mg over 100ml of breath – well over the legal limit.

However, Mr Pickavance said analysis estimated the defendant would have had around 86mg over 100ml of breath at the time of the crash. Whitfield, of Hammond Street in St Helens, pleaded guilty to a single count of causing death by dangerous driving at the plea and trial preparation hearing last month.

In brief mitigation, Steven Swift, defending, said his client entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He also said there had been a 30 month delay in the case going before the courts due to a well-documented backlog and asked for that to be reflected in the sentencing.

Mr Swift said his client did not have prior convictions for dangerous or careless driving, but did have offences dating back to 1999 for driving while disqualified which led to a 12 month term in prison. He added his client, who had previously worked as a security guard before the incident, had four children, although he didn’t have direct care for them.

Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, said Mr Cunliffe had only been in the road moments when the defendant hit him. The judge said the area, which is a main thoroughfare, is well illuminated by working street lights.

Addressing Whitfield, who appeared in the dock wearing glasses and a striped jumper and sported short greying hair, Judge Menary said: “Such was your compromised ability, you didn’t notice motorists flashing their lights at you. Simply and horrifically, you drove over Adam. I do not find you knew it was a person, but the fact you drove on obliviously demonstrates how badly affected by drink you were.”

Addressing Mr Cunliffe’s family, Judge Menary said: “The loss of Adam will irretrievably damage all of your lives. The sentence I pass will not equate to your loss and suffering. The reality is there is nothing this court can do to alleviate your suffering.”

Whitfield was jailed for seven years and four months after the judge awarded him 1/3 credit for his guilty plea. He will also be disqualified from driving for five years following his release from prison.